“Your iniquity is completed, daughter of Zion; He will not continue to exile you. He will reckon your iniquity, daughter of Edom, He will expose your sins” (Lamentations 4:22).“Your iniquity is completed, daughter of Zion.” Rabbi Ḥelbo said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: The removal of Pharaoh’s ring regarding Israel in Egypt was more effective than the forty years that Moses prophesied to them, because with this one there was redemption, and with that one there was no redemption.63The removal of the ring was in order to formally stamp a royal edict. Pharaoh’s edicts, which brought suffering upon the Israelites, were effective in causing them to repent, which led to redemption. Moses’ exhortations did not cause the people to repent in the wilderness (see Deuteronomy 9:7). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: The removal of Aḥashverosh’s ring regarding Israel64To authorize Haman’s plot to eradicate the Jewish people. in Media was more effective than the six hundred thousand prophets who prophesied in the days of Elijah. Why? Because with this one there was redemption, and with that one there was no redemption. The Rabbis say: The scroll of Lamentations was more effective than the forty years that Jeremiah prophesied to them. Why? Because Israel received complete retribution for their sins on the day that the Temple was destroyed. That is what is written: “Your iniquity is completed, daughter of Zion.”65Once they were punished, they were no longer liable for further punishment.“He will reckon your iniquity, daughter of Edom.” Rabbi Pinḥas said in the name of Rabbi Oshaya: Why was suffering created? To come upon the house to which it should go.66Suffering always has a role, whether to punish Israel or as vengeance against Israel’s persecutors. That is what is written: “Your iniquity is completed, daughter of Zion; He will not continue to exile you. He will reckon your iniquity, daughter of Edom, He will expose your sins.”67After the sins of the daughters of Zion will be completely expiated, suffering will be directed to the daughters of Edom. Similarly, “The Lord will remove from you all illness” (Deuteronomy 7:15). Why was suffering created? To come upon the house to which it should go. That is what is written: “He will give them to your enemies” (Deuteronomy 7:15). Similarly, “the vision of Obadiah: So said the Lord God concerning Edom: We have heard tidings from the Lord, and an envoy was sent among the nations: Arise, and let us rise against it…” (Obadiah 1:1).68The chapter continues with a description of the suffering that God will inflict of Edom. And this verse: “Your iniquity is completed, daughter of Zion; He will not continue to exile you. [He will reckon your iniquity, daughter of Edom, He will expose your sins].”End of the Fourth Alphabetical Acrostic