Rabbi Abbahu and Rabbi Yoḥanan, one said: The portion is out of order. The other said: It was stated in order. The one who said: The portion is out of order, as the Holy One blessed be He had already promised him, as it is stated: “Behold, I am with you” (Genesis 28:15), and he says: “If God will be with me”? The one who says: It was stated in order, how do I understand: “If God will be with me”?
It is, rather, that this is what Jacob said: ‘If the conditions that He said, to be with me and to keep me, will be fulfilled, I will fulfill my vow.’ “And I return to my father’s house in peace, the Lord will be my God” (Genesis 28:21). Rabbi Abbahu and the Rabbis, Rabbi Abbahu said: “If God will be with me, and He will keep me on this way [derekh] that I go” (Genesis 28:20) – from evil speech, just as it says: “They drew [vayadrekhu] their tongues, their bows of falsehood” (Jeremiah 9:2).
“And will give me bread to eat” (Genesis 28:20) – from illicit sexual relations, just as it says: “He did not know anything with him except the bread that he eats” (Genesis 39:6) – a euphemism.9A euphemism for Potiphar’s wife. “And I return to my father’s house in peace” (Genesis 28:21) – from bloodshed. “The Lord will be my God” (Genesis 28:21) – from idol worship. The Rabbis interpret all the matters from it: “If God will be with me, and He will keep me on this way [derekh] that I go” – from idol worship, from illicit sexual relations, from bloodshed, from evil speech.
Derekh is nothing other than idol worship, just as it says: “Those who take an oath by the sin of Samaria, and say: As your god lives, Dan, and: As the way [derekh] of Beersheba lives” (Amos 8:14). Derekh is nothing other than illicit sexual relations, as it is stated: “So is the way [derekh] of an adulterous woman…” (Proverbs 30:20). Derekh is nothing other than bloodshed, as it is stated: “My son, do not walk on a way with them; prevent your foot from their pathway […and they are quick to spill blood]” (Proverbs 1:15–16).
Derekh is nothing other than evil speech,10This is derived from the verse cited above: “They drew [vayadrekhu] their tongues, their bows of falsehood” (Jeremiah 9:2). as it is stated: “He heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying: Jacob has taken…” (Genesis 31:1).11Lavan’s sons slandered Jacob.