The Four Cups: Redemption or Revenge?

When the righteous prosper the city exults; When the wicked perish there are shouts of joy.

If your enemy falls, do not exult; If he trips, let your heart not rejoice.

From where [do we know the requirement to drink] four cups? Rabbi Yochanan [said] in the name of Rav, "Rabbi Banniah said, 'Corresponding to the four [expressions of] redemption: "G-d spoke to Moses and said to him: ... Say to the people of Israel: “I am G-d! I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians and I will save you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and great acts of judgment. And I will take you to Me as a nation; I will be your G-d.”' (Exodus 6: 6-7)

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said, 'Corresponding to the four cups of Pharaoh [from Pharaoh's cupbearer's dream]: "'Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.' Joseph said to him, 'This is its interpretation: The three branches are three days. In three days Pharaoh will pardon you and restore you to your post; you will place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, as was your custom formerly when you were his cupbearer.'" (Genesis 40:11-13)

...and the rabbis said, 'Corresponding to the four punishments that the Holy One, blessed be G-d, will pour upon the nations of the world in the future:

"G-d said to me: 'Take this wine cup of anger from my hand, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink from it.'" (Jeremiah 25:15)

"Babylon was a golden cup in G-d's hand, making the whole earth drunk. From Babylon's wine the nations drank, and that is why they are mad." (Jeremiah 51:7)

"There is a cup in G-d's hand with foaming wine. G-d pours from it, draining it to the bottom-- all the wicked of the earth drink it." (Psalms 75:9)

"G-d will rain down blazing coals and sulfur on the wicked. A scorching wind will be the portion of their cup." (Psalms 11:6).'"

Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman says that Rabbi Yonatan says: What is the meaning of that which is written in the passage describing the splitting of the Red Sea: “And the one came not near the other all the night” (Exodus 14:20)? At that time the ministering angels desired to recite a song before the Holy One, Blessed be G-d. The Holy One, Blessed be G-d, said to them: My handiwork, i.e., the Egyptians, are drowning in the sea, and you are reciting a song before Me? Apparently, God is not gladdened by the downfall of the wicked. Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina says: G-d does not rejoice in their downfall, but G-d does cause others to feel joy.