The Edomites and Ishmaelites represent all non-Jewish nations, past and present. By offering the Torah to the non-Jewish nations, G‑d rendered them receptive to later accepting their obligation to observe the “Noahide” laws. These are the seven categories of commandments that must be observed by all non-Jews. In order to properly accept this legal code, the non-Jew must acknowledge that G‑d gave it to humanity as part of the Torah that He gave at Mount Sinai.
Furthermore, in the Messianic future, the non-Jewish nations will be refined and no longer oppose the lifestyle and world-vision of the Torah. By approaching the nations of the world with the option to accept the entire Torah, G‑d implanted within them the receptivity to both their present obligation to accept the Torah’s authority over them – obligating them in the Noahide laws – as well as their future acceptance of the Torah’s world-vision, transforming them into active participants in the final Redemption.1
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