The Four Kingdoms

The Four Kingdoms

בראשית כח ,יג: וַיַחֲלם וְהִּנֵּה סֻלָּם מֻצָּב אַרְ צָּה וְרֹּאשוֹ מַגִּיעַ הַשָּמָּיְמָּה וְהִּנֵּה מַלְאֲכֵּי אֱלקִּ ים עֹּלִּים וְיֹּרְ דִּ ים בוֹ

The Baal haTurim points out that the Gematria of עלים ויורדים (428) equals the phrase בבל ומדי ויון ורומי.

Throughout Talmud and Medrash Israel’s exiles and persecutions are discussed as four main periods of subjugation to foreign oppressors, known collectively as ארבע מלכיות Four Kingdoms. Each of the Four Kingdoms are called by the name of the empire dominant in the world at that particular time.

HaShem showed Yaacov that each of the oppressors would ascent and then fall from dominance.