Bereshit Rabbah 83

וְאֵלֶּה הַמְּלָכִים אֲשֶׁר מָלְכוּ וגו' (בראשית לו, לא), רַבִּי יִצְחָק פָּתַח (יחזקאל כז, ו): אַלּוֹנִים מִבָּשָׁן עָשׂוּ מִשּׁוֹטָיִךְ, אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק נִמְשְׁלוּ עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים כִּסְפִינָה, מַה סְּפִינָה זוֹ עוֹשִׂים לָהּ תֹּרֶן מִמָּקוֹם אֶחָד וְהוֹגָנִין מִמָּקוֹם אַחֵר, כָּךְ עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים, (בראשית לו, לו): שַׂמְלָה מִמַּשְׂרֵקָה (בראשית לו, לז): וְשָׁאוּל מֵרְחוֹבוֹת הַנָּהָר. וְאֵלֶּה הַמְּלָכִים (משלי כ, כא): נַחֲלָה מְבֹהֶלֶת בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה, וְאֵלֶּה הַמְּלָכִים, (משלי כ, כא): וְאַחֲרִיתָהּ לֹא תְבֹרָךְ, (עובדיה א, כא): וְעָלוּ מוֹשִׁיעִים בְּהַר צִיּוֹן.

“These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before the reign of a king for the children of Israel” (Genesis 36:31). “These are the kings who reigned…” – Rabbi Yitzḥak began: “Of oaks from Bashan they crafted your oars; [your rudder they made of ivory inlaid in boxwood from the isles of the Kitites]” (Ezekiel 27:6). Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Idolaters were likened to a ship; just as a ship, they manufacture a mast for it from [wood from] one place and anchors from [wood from] another place, so, idolaters, “[Hadad died, and] Samla of Masreka [reigned in his stead]” (Genesis 36:36) “[Samla died,] and Shaul of Reḥovot of the river [reigned in his stead]” (Genesis 36:37). “These are the kings.” “An estate seized hastily at the start” (Proverbs 20:21) – “these are the kings.” “Will not be blessed at its end” (Proverbs 20:21) – “saviors will ascend Mount Zion [to judge the mountain of Esau]” (Obadiah 1:21).

אָמַר רַבִּי אַיְּבוּ קֹדֶם שֶׁלֹא עָמַד מֶלֶךְ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל (מלכים א כב, מח): נִצָּב מֶלֶךְ בֶּאֱדוֹם, וְאֵלֶּה הַמְּלָכִים, רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר חֲנִינָא בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁזֶּה מַעֲמִיד מְלָכִים, זֶה מַעֲמִיד שׁוֹפְטִים: וּבְשָׁעָה שֶׁזֶּה מַעֲמִיד אַלּוּפִים, זֶה מַעֲמִיד נְשִׂיאִים. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר זֶה הֶעֱמִיד שְׁמוֹנָה וְזֶה הֶעֱמִיד שְׁמוֹנָה, זֶה הֶעֱמִיד שְׁמוֹנָה: בֶּלַע, יוֹבָב, חֻשָּׁם, הֲדַד, שַׂמְלָה, שָׁאוּל, בַּעַל חָנָן, הֲדַר. וְזֶה הֶעֱמִיד שְׁמוֹנָה: שָׁאוּל, וְאִישׁ בּשֶׁת, דָּוִד, שְׁלֹמֹה, רְחַבְעָם, אֲבִיָּה, אָסָא, יְהוֹשָׁפָט. בָּא נְבוּכַדְנֶצַר וְעִרְבֵּב אֵלּוּ בְּאֵלּוּ וּבִטֵּל שֶׁל אֵלּוּ וְשֶׁל אֵלּוּ, (ישעיה יד, יז): שָׂם תֵּבֵל כַּמִּדְבָּר וְעָרָיו הָרָס. בָּא אֱוִיל וְנָתַן גְּדֻלָּה לִיהוֹיָכִין, בָּא אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ וְנָתַן גְּדֻלָּה לְהָמָן.

Rabbi Aivu said: Before a king reigned in Israel, [but once there was a king in Israel], “[There was no king] in Edom; an official was king” (I Kings 22:48) – “These are the kings [who reigned in the land of Edom before the reign of a king for the children of Israel].” Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina [said]: When this one crowns kings, this one appoints judges. When this one appoints chieftains, this one appoints princes. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: This one crowned eight and that one crowned eight. This one crowned eight: Bela, Yovav, Ḥusham, Hadad, Samla, Shaul, Baal Ḥanan, Hadar. And that one crowned eight: Shaul, Ish Boshet, David, Solomon, Reḥavam, Aviya, Asa, Yehoshafat. Nebuchadnezzar came and mingled these with those, and abrogated these and those, [as it is stated:] “Who rendered the world like a wilderness and destroyed its cities” (Isaiah 14:17). Evil came and accorded greatness to Yehoyakhin. Aḥashverosh came and accorded greatness to Haman.

וַיָּמָת בָּלַע (בראשית לו, לג), אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ לְבֶן מְלָכִים שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ דִּין עִם אֶחָד וְכָלוּ מְזוֹנוֹתָיו, בָּא אֶחָד וְסִפֵּק לוֹ מְזוֹנוֹת, אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵין לִי עֵסֶק אֶלָּא עִם זֶה שֶׁסִּפֵּק לוֹ מְזוֹנוֹת. כָּךְ אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּבָר הָיְתָה מַלְכוּת עֲקוּרָה מֵאֱדוֹם וּבָאת בָּצְרָה וְסִפֵּק לָהֶם מְלָכִים, לְפִיכָךְ אֵין לִי עֵסֶק אֶלָּא עִם בָּצְרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה לד, ו): כִּי זֶבַח לַה' בְּבָצְרָה וגו'. אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה אַף עַל פִּי כֵן (ישעיה לד, ו): טֶבַח גָּדוֹל בְּאֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם.

“Bela died, and Yovav, son of Zerah, of Botzra, reigned in his stead” (Genesis 36:33). “Bela died” (Genesis 36:33) – Rabbi Abahu said: This is analogous to a prince who was involved in litigation with someone and [the other litigant’s] sustenance ran out. Someone came and supplied him with sustenance. The king said: ‘I will contend only with the one who provided him with sustenance.’ So, the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Kingdom had already been uprooted from Edom, and Botzra came and provided them with kings? That is why I will contend only with Botzra,’ as it is stated: “For there is a sacrifice to the Lord in Botzra…” (Isaiah 34:6). Rabbi Berekhya said: Nevertheless, “and a great slaughter in the land of Edom” (Isaiah 34:6).

וַיָּמָת בַּעַל חָנָן (בראשית לו, לט), רַבִּי לֵוִי וְרַבִּי סִימוֹן, רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר מֵיטִיבֵי אֱלֹהוֹת הָיוּ, (בראשית לו, לט): מְהֵיטַבְאֵל, שֶׁהָיוּ מֵיטִיבִין עַצְמָן לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים. (בראשית לו, לט): בַּת מַטְרֵד, שֶׁהָיוּ מַעֲמִידִין טוּרִיּוֹת לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים. רַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר מֵיטִיבֵי נָשִׁים הָיוּ, מְהֵיטַבְאֵל, שֶׁהָיוּ מֵיטִיבִין אוֹתָהּ לְבַעֲלָהּ וְאַחַר כָּךְ טוֹרְדִין אוֹתָהּ מִבַּעֲלָהּ. (בראשית לו, לט): בַּת מֵי זָהָב, טְרוּדִים הָיוּ בִּמְזוֹנוֹתָם, מִן דַּעֲתִירִין מַהוּ דַהֲבָא מַהוּ כַסְפָּא. (בראשית לו, מג): אַלּוּף מַגְדִּיאֵל אַלּוּף עִירָם, יוֹם שֶׁמָּלַךְ לוֹטְיָנוּס נִרְאָה לְרַבִּי אַמֵּי בַּחֲלוֹם הַיּוֹם מָלַךְ מַגְדִּיאֵל, אָמַר עוֹד מֶלֶךְ אֶחָד נִתְבַּקֵּשׁ לֶאֱדוֹם. אַלּוּף עִירָם, אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא צִפּוֹרָאָה לָמָּה נִקְרָא עִירָם שֶׁהוא עָתִיד לַעֲרֹם תִּסַּוְרִיּוֹת לְמֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי מַעֲשֶׂה בְּשִׁלְטוֹן אֶחָד בְּרוֹמִי שֶׁהָיָה מְבַזְבֵּז תִּסַּוְרִיּוֹת שֶׁל אָבִיו, נִרְאָה לוֹ אֵלִיָּהוּ בַּחֲלוֹם אָמַר לוֹ אֲבוֹתֶיךָ מְצַמְתִין וְאַתְּ מְבַזְבֵּז, וְלֹא זָז עַד שֶׁמִּלְּאָן.

“Baal Ḥanan son of Akhbor died, and Hadar reigned in his stead, and the name of the city was Pa’u and his wife’s name was Mehetavel, daughter of Matred, daughter of Mei Zahav” (Genesis 36:39). “Baal Ḥanan died” – Rabbi Levi and Rabbi Simon, Rabbi Levi said: They would adorn [their] gods [metivei elohot]. “Mehetavel” – they would adorn themselves for idol worship. “Daughter of Matred” – they would erect castles [turiyot] for idol worship. Rabbi Simon said: They would adorn women. “Mehetavel” – they would adorn her for her husband and then would take [toredin] her from her husband. “Daughter of Mei Zahav” – they were preoccupied with their sustenance; once they became wealthy, [they would say:] What is gold [mahu dahava]? What is silver? “The chieftain of Magdiel, the chieftain of Iram. These are the chieftains of Edom, according to their settlements in their apportioned land. He is Esau, father of Edom” (Genesis 36:43). “The chieftain of Magdiel, the chieftain of Iram” – on the day that Diocletian assumed the throne, Rabbi Ami saw in his dream: Today, Magdiel assumed the throne. He said: ‘One more king is required for Edom.’ “The chieftain of Iram” – Rabbi Ḥanina of Tzippori said: Why is he called Iram? Because he is destined to pile [laarom] treasures for the messianic king. Rabbi Levi said: There was an incident involving a certain ruler in Rome who would squander his father’s treasures. Elijah appeared to him in a dream. He said to him: ‘Your fathers gathered and you squander?’ He did not move from there until he refilled them.

הַתֶּבֶן וְהַקַּשׁ וְהַמּוֹץ מְרִיבִים [מדינים] זֶה עִם זֶה, זֶה אוֹמֵר בִּשְׁבִילִי נִזְרְעָה הַשָּׂדֶה, וְזֶה אוֹמֵר בִּשְׁבִילִי נִזְרְעָה הַשָּׂדֶה, אָמְרוּ הַחִטִּים הַמְתִּינוּ עַד שֶׁתָּבוֹאוּ הַגֹּרֶן וְאָנוּ יוֹדְעִין בִּשְׁבִיל מָה נִזְרְעָה הַשָּׂדֶה. בָּאוּ לַגֹּרֶן וְיָצָא בַּעַל הַבַּיִת לִזְרוֹתָהּ, הָלַךְ לוֹ הַמֹּץ בָּרוּחַ, נָטַל אֶת הַתֶּבֶן וְהִשְׁלִיכוֹ עַל הָאָרֶץ, וְנָטַל אֶת הַקַּשׁ וּשְׂרָפוֹ, נָטַל אֶת הַחִטִּים וְעָשָׂה אוֹתָן כְּרִי, וְכָל מִי שֶׁרוֹאֶה אוֹתָן מְנַשְּׁקָן, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (תהלים ב, יב): נַשְׁקוּ בַר פֶּן יֶאֱנַף, כָּךְ אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, הַלָּלוּ אוֹמְרִים אָנוּ עִקָּר וּבִשְׁבִילֵנוּ נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם, וְהַלָּלוּ אוֹמְרִים בִּשְׁבִילֵנוּ נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם, אָמְרוּ לָהֶם יִשְׂרָאֵל הַמְתִּינוּ עַד שֶׁיַּגִּיעַ הַיּוֹם וְאָנוּ יוֹדְעִים בִּשְׁבִיל מִי נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (מלאכי ג, יט): כִּי הִנֵּה הַיּוֹם בָּא בֹּעֵר כַּתַּנּוּר, וַעֲלֵיהֶם הוּא אוֹמֵר (ישעיה מא, טז): תִּזְרֵם וְרוּחַ תִּשָּׂאֵם וּסְעָרָה תָּפִיץ אֹתָם, אֲבָל יִשְׂרָאֵל (ישעיה מא, טז): וְאַתָּה תָּגִיל בַּה' בִּקְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל תִּתְהַלָּל.

The stubble, the straw, and the chaff were quarreling <contending> with one another. This one said: ‘The field was sown for my sake,’ and that one said: ‘The field was sown for my sake.’ The wheat said: ‘Wait until you come to the threshing floor, and we will know for what the field was sown.’ They came to the threshing floor and the landowner went out to winnow it. The chaff was carried away with the wind, he took the stubble and cast it to the ground, he took the straw and burned it, he took the wheat and made it into a grain pile. Anyone who saw it kissed it, just as it says: “Kiss the grain lest He be angry” (Psalms 2:12). So it is with the nations of the world; these say: ‘We are primary and the world was created for our sake’ and those say: ‘The world was created for our sake.’ Israel says to them: ‘Wait until the day arrives when we will know for whose sake the world was created.’ That is what is written: “For, behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, [and all the wicked and all the evildoers will be straw]” (Malachi 3:19). And in their regard it is written: “You will winnow them and the wind will carry them and the storm will scatter them” (Isaiah 41:16). But Israel: “But you will rejoice in the Lord, you will be glorified in the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 41:16).