A Midrash read , “And there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day,” to refer to the breaking of the day for Israel, for exile was like night. The Midrash taught that the nations of the world and the kingdom of Edom (symbolizing the Roman Empire) wrestled with Israel to lead Israel astray from God's path. And as reports, “And when he saw that he could not prevail against him,” that is, that he could not dissuade Israel from acknowledging God's unity, then (in the words of Genesis ) “he touched the hollow of his thigh,” that is, Jacob's circumcision. Thus the Roman government (symbolized by Edom) forbade circumcision of Jewish children. And thus continues, “And the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint,” referred to those defiled during those days of persecution.