Pemikiran Yahudi Obaja 1:21: Akeidat Yitzchak, Derashot HaRan, Netzach Yisrael & Ner Mitzvah

It is interesting that the temple in later years was to be erected in the territory of Benjamin, the only one of the brothers who had not bowed down to Esau. (he had not been born yet) The defeats inflicted in times to come on the descendants of Esau were likewise administered by descendants of Benjamin, i.e. Saul, and Mordechai. Even Haman's wife realised that if Mordechai was descended from the tribe that had defeated Amalek once, there was little hope of Haman being able to overcome him. Esau, believing that anyone trying to atone for a capital offense would at least offer all his worldly goods, thought that in coming face to face with the gifts, he had actually seen all of Jacob's wealth. (9) Therefore, he said, "I have lots, keep what is yours." In this manner he wanted to show that he was in a generous mood. Jacob then had to correct Esau's mistaken impression by announcing that what Esau had just seen was merely a gift as is befitting when one meets a superior person. Jacob himself, however, had retained so much of his own wealth that he was able to say, "I have all that a person could wish for." Esau's offer to travel with Jacob, demonstrates his error in believing that the time had already come when no more basic differences in their respective outlooks on life existed between them. Jacob is at pains to explain that the Jewish attitude to material values is such that the slightest overemphasis leads to negative spiritual results. In alluding to this, he says that if one pushes the sheep too much even for a single day, the flock will die (Genesis 33,13). In conclusion, it is clear that Divine help had been forthcoming only after every effort had been made to exhaust natural means.

This is what we have seen to be the case with the passage of time vis-à-vis Edom — that when the Blessed One raised the staff of our strength, Edom's hand was lowered; and when we were lowered and cringing, he grew in destructive power. And, as to what will transpire with the continued passage of time, the prophets have already described it as following this pattern until (Ovadiah 1:18): "And the house of Jacob shall be fire and the house of Joseph, flame, and the house of Esau, stubble… (Ibid 21): and liberators shall ascend Mount Zion to judge the mountain of Esau, and the kingdom shall be the L-rd's." That is, though Esau has fallen and risen many times, he will not fall never to rise again until Jacob rises never to fall again.

In any event, what transpired with them in the womb was an augury of what would transpire with them all the days of their lives. Similarly, what transpired with Jacob upon his leaving the womb is a sign and omen of what will transpire with us in the end of days. For he left with his hand grasping the heel of Esau. And there is no question that this was not an adventitious occurrence. For when the Holy One Blessed be He chastised Jacob for his ingratitude in the face of all the lovingkindnesses He had accorded him, He said (Hosea 12:4): "In the womb, he seized his brother by the heel and in his strength he prevailed against a god [the angel of Esau]." And if this were an adventitious act, why should He chastise Jacob because of it? This is compounded by the fact that it is a highly unnatural occurrence. A fetus is extremely frail. How, then, could he have been grasping his brother's heel? Undoubtedly, then, this was a Divine intimation of what would occur in the end of days, that at the end of Esau's reign Jacob would seize his kingdom, and would, in that sense, be grasping his heel. And this is, indeed, what will transpire in the future as stated in the prophecy of Ovadiah (Ovadiah 1:18): "And the house of Jacob shall be fire and the house of Joseph, flame, and the house of Esau, stubble…" after which it is written (Ibid 21): "and liberators shall ascend Mount Zion to judge the mountain of Esau, and the kingdom shall be the L-rd's." And this is the intent of the Midrash (Genesis Rabbah 63:12): "A certain general asked one of the sages of the house of Siloa: 'Who shall take over the kingdom after us?' The latter immediately brought a smooth piece of parchment and wrote upon it (Genesis 25:25): 'And after that his brother came out with his hand grasping Esau's heel.' The former thereupon remarked: 'Behold, old words from a new elder.'" It is apparent, then, that Jacob's grasping his brother in the womb was portentous and not adventitious. The Blessed One chastises Jacob for ingratitude [for His lovingkindnesses] over having grasped his brother just as he chastises him for ingratitude [for His lovingkindnesses] over having prevailed against the angel.