II Video: The origins of the Jewish Nation
Professor Ruth Wisse, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks and many other biblical experts
From the Hebrew Bible, First Book of Moses, Bereishis (Genesis)
The Haftorah of the Torah portion of the week, Vayishlach
(Ovadiah 1:1-21) The Vision of Ovadiah.
1 This is what Almighty God said about Edom (Eisav): We (the prophets) have heard a message from God, and a messenger has been sent among the nations, (saying): “Get up! Let’s wage war against her!”
2 “Look, (initially) I made you small among the notions (and; you were greatly despised.)
3 (But now that your kingdom is great), the wickedness of your heart has enticed you (to be overly proud). You (are like one) who dwell(s) in the (sheltered) clefts of a rock, (as secure as one) whose dwelling is lofty, who says to himself: ‘Who can (lower me from my lofty position, and) bring me down towards earth?’
4 (But even) if you lift (yourself) high like an eagle, and (even) if you place your nest between the stars, I will bring you down from there (to be conquered by the nations)!” says God.
5 “If thieves came upon you, or robbers at night, (they would not totally clean you out, so) how have you been (totally) wiped out? Don’t they only steal what they require? If grape-gatherers came upon you, do they not at least leave some gleanings? (Yet, You Edom, will be totally wiped out).”
6 How have the houses of Edom been searched (and all their belongings removed? How have his hidden places been sought out.)
7 All your allies accompanied you (only) to the border (but then turned back, and left you to fight alone). Those who are at peace with you induced you (to go to war) and prevailed over you. Those who eat your bread have (schemed against you, and have thereby) made a wound in your place. (Edom) has no understanding (to realize that this is happening to him).
8 Surely, on that day (when the punishment will arrive),” says God, “I will cause the wise men from Edom and wisdom from the mountain of Eisav to perish, (for they will not have the tactics at hand to save their lives).”
9 And you who live in the south, (since you too are from Edom), your mighty men will be broken, so that the slaughter will wipe out every last man from the mountain of Eisav.”
10 Because you oppressed your brother Ya’akov, you will be covered in shame, and you will be cut off forever.
11 (Yes, you oppressed your brother) when you stood aside on the day that strangers confiscated his possessions, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots over (dividing) Jerusalem (between themselves). You too are like one of them since you did nothing to help).
12 You should not have looked on at your brother’s anguish), on the day of his estrangement (from his land), and (all the more so) you should not have rejoiced at the Children of Yehudah when they were destroyed. Nor should you have spoken proudly on the day of his distress (and since you did these things, I consider them acts of oppression against your brother).
13 You should not have entered the gates of My people (to conquer their lands) on the day of their calamity (when the Temple was destroyed). Nor should you have gazed at his misfortune on the day of his downfall. You should not have stretched (your hand) out over his possessions (and looted them) on the day of his calamity.
14 You should not have stood at the dispersion to cut off his refugees, and you should not have arrested his survivors (throughout) the day(s) of his distress.
15 Because (you should have realized that) the day of God’s reckoning) on all the nations is near. As you have done, so will be done to you. Your recompense will come back on your head.
16 For just as you (Yehudah) have drunk on My Holy Mount, so too all the nations will constantly drink (from the cup of turmoil). They will drink and become confounded, and they will be (destroyed) as if they never were.
17 But on the Mount of Tziyon there will (still) be a remnant, and it will be holy. The House of Ya’akov will inherit those nations who inherited them previously.
18 The House of Ya’akov will be a consuming fire, the House of Yosef a consuming flame and the House of Eisav will be (like) straw. They will set them alight and consume them, and there will be no survivors from the House of Eisau — for God has spoken.
19 They will inherit the South, the Mountain of Eisav, and the lowlands, the (land of the) Philistines. And they will inherit the field of Efrayim and the field of Shomron. Binyamin (will inherit) the Land of Gilad.
20 The exiled army of the Children of Israel, (who lived) with the Cana’anites until Tzorfas, and the exiles of Yerushalayim until Seforad, will inherit the cities of the south (i.e. Edom).” And (when Moshiach and his ministers) the saviors of Mount Tziyon, will ascend Mount Se’ir to judge (the children of Eisav for all their wrongdoings to Israel), God will be King — all nations will recognize His sole authority.)
PS Correction. My original article presented Eisav as the progenitor of the Arab nations and I have been advised that Eisav was the progenitor of the nation of Edom which later helped the Romans in their destruction of the Second Hebrew Temple. It was Ishmael, brother to Isaac, who was progenitor of the Arab nations. Sorry for the confusion but in either case the Jews have had a very bad time. Only Hashem has guaranteed their continued success and existence. jsk
Further commentary by world renown Rabbi Berl Wein:
From: Rabbi Berel Wein
Sent: Monday, December 08, 2014 2:33 PM
To: The Destiny Foundation
Subject: Re: FW: Eisav vs. Ishmael
Traditionally, Eisav represents Christianity and Yishmael represents Islam. However, it is difficult to assign these designations to the prophets. We don’t quite know what and who their prophecy refers to.
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