וְהָיָה֩ בֵית־יַעֲקֹ֨ב אֵ֜שׁ וּבֵ֧ית יוֹסֵ֣ף לֶהָבָ֗ה וּבֵ֤ית עֵשָׂו֙ לְקַ֔שׁ וְדָלְק֥וּ בָהֶ֖ם וַאֲכָל֑וּם וְלֹֽא־יִֽהְיֶ֤ה שָׂרִיד֙ לְבֵ֣ית עֵשָׂ֔ו כִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה דִּבֵּֽר׃
Y la casa de Jacob será fuego, y la casa de José será llama, y la casa de Esaú estopa, y los quemarán, y los consumirán; ni aun reliquia quedará en la casa de Esaú, porque SEÑOR lo habló.
Midrash Tanchuma
What is written prior to this episode? These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau: … the chief of Lotan, the chief of Magdiel … These are the chiefs of Edom (ibid. 36:15–43). When Jacob saw the chiefs of the sons of Esau, he was terrified. “Who will be able to withstand these chiefs?” he exclaimed. To what may this be compared? It may be compared to many camels laden with flax (in a certain place), and a blacksmith standing nearby asked in amazement: “Where will it be possible to store all this flax?” An observer responded: “Why do you wonder about that? After all, a single spark from your forge can consume it all.” Similarly, when our patriarch Jacob became terrified at the sight of Esau and the chiefs, and cried out: “Who will be able to assist me against them?” The Holy One, blessed be He, answered: A spark from you will consume them. And Joseph was that spark, as it is said: And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them (Obad. 1:18). Therefore it is written: And Jacob sat … these are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, etc.
Midrash Tanchuma
Similarly, Judah will also be Esau’s adversary, as it is stated: And the lion shall eat straw like the ox (Isa. 11:7). Lion refers to Judah, as is said: Judah is a lion’s whelp (Gen. 49:9), and like the ox alludes to Joseph. Will eat straw informs us that Joseph will judge Esau, who is referred to as straw, and his descendants will be like straw, as it is said: And the house of Esau is like straw (Obad. 18).1The two tribes, identified as animals, will consume the straw representing Esau. Whence do we know that all the others will likewise judge Esau? From the verse How was thy mother a lioness; among lions she couched (Ezek. 19:2). We learn (from this verse) that all Israel will judge Esau.
Bamidbar Rabbah
Another matter: “The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai” – that is what the verse said: “Your navel is a moon-shaped goblet” (Song of Songs 7:3); it is speaking of the Sanhedrin that was situated in the Chamber of Hewn Stone and is analogized to the navel. Why is it analogized to the navel? It is, that just as this navel is situated in the middle of the body, so, the Sanhedrin is situated in the middle of the Temple. “May it not lack blended wine [al yeḥsar hamazeg]” (Song of Songs 7:3) – what is “al yeḥsar hamazeg”? That there were never less than one-third of them. “Al yeḥsar hamazeg” – one who dilutes [mozeg] properly, dilutes with one-third of the cup wine and two parts water. So, the Sanhedrin would convene there from the daily morning offering until the daily afternoon offering, and no one of them would leave to tend to his own affairs. What would they do if one of them sought to leave? He would count; if there were twenty-three there, he would leave, if not, he would not leave.6The Sanhedrin had seventy members. Twenty-three is just under one third. Why? It is because it is written: “May it not lack blended wine [al yeḥsar hamazeg]” that one-third of them were never missing. Therefore, al yeḥsar hamazeg.
“Your belly is a pile of wheat” (Song of Songs 7:3) – Israel was likened to a pile of wheat; just as this wheat enters the storehouse by number, so, the Holy One blessed be He said that Israel should be counted at all times.7This is a sign of importance. That is why it is stated: “Your belly is a pile of wheat.” But straw and stubble are not counted and not measured; so, the nations of the world were likened to straw and stubble, as it is stated: “Like stubble before the wind” (Psalms 83:14), and likewise: “The house of Esau to stubble” (Obadiah 1:18). Why? It is because the Holy One blessed be He derives no pleasure from them, as it is stated: “All the nations are as nothing before Him” (Isaiah 40:17). But Israel, the Holy One blessed be He derives pleasure from them; they recite Shema, pray, and bless the name of the King of kings, the Holy One blessed be He, every day. That is why they are counted at all times and that is why they were likened to wheat. “Your belly is a pile of wheat.”
“Your belly is a pile of wheat” (Song of Songs 7:3) – Israel was likened to a pile of wheat; just as this wheat enters the storehouse by number, so, the Holy One blessed be He said that Israel should be counted at all times.7This is a sign of importance. That is why it is stated: “Your belly is a pile of wheat.” But straw and stubble are not counted and not measured; so, the nations of the world were likened to straw and stubble, as it is stated: “Like stubble before the wind” (Psalms 83:14), and likewise: “The house of Esau to stubble” (Obadiah 1:18). Why? It is because the Holy One blessed be He derives no pleasure from them, as it is stated: “All the nations are as nothing before Him” (Isaiah 40:17). But Israel, the Holy One blessed be He derives pleasure from them; they recite Shema, pray, and bless the name of the King of kings, the Holy One blessed be He, every day. That is why they are counted at all times and that is why they were likened to wheat. “Your belly is a pile of wheat.”