Jacob the First to Vow and the Four Who Made Vows

"And Jacob vowed a vow, saying" (Genesis 28:20). "That which my lips uttered and my mouth spoke in my distress" (Psalms 66:14). Rabbi Yitzhak said: A vow is a commandment in one's time of distress. What is the meaning of "saying"? It is to say to the generations that they should make vows in times of pressure. Jacob was the first to open with a vow; therefore everyone who vows should attach the vow only to him, as it is written, "He who swore to the LORD, vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob" (Psalms 132:2). It does not say "the Mighty One of Abraham and Isaac," but "the Mighty One of Jacob" he attached the vow to the one who first opened with it. It is written, "And the people rejoiced over their freewill offering, for with a whole heart they offered willingly to the LORD" (1 Chronicles 29:9). Because they were occupied with the commandment of free-will giving and it succeeded in their hand, they rejoiced. What does it say there? "And David blessed the LORD before the eyes of all the assembly, and David said, Blessed are You, O LORD" the God of Israel our father (1 Chronicles 29:10). It does not say "the God of Abraham and Isaac," but "the God of Israel our father" he attached the vow to the one who first opened with it. Rabbi Yudan said: Furthermore, the verse is not lacking [an interpretation] from its place: "And Israel vowed a vow." It is not written here "And the Israelites vowed," but "And Israel vowed a vow" [referring to] Israel the elder [Jacob]. There are four who made vows: two vowed and lost, two vowed and profited. Jacob vowed and lost; Jephthah vowed and lost; Hannah vowed and profited; Israel vowed and profited. Rabbi Eivo and Rabbi Yonatan [differed]: one said the passage is out of order, and one said it was stated in order. The one who said the passage is out of order [reasoned] that the Holy One, blessed be He, had already assured him, "And behold, I am with you" (Genesis 28:15), yet he says, "If God will be with me" how astonishing! The one who said it was stated in order how does he sustain "If God will be with me"? [It means:] If the conditions He stipulated with me are fulfilled, I will fulfill my vow. Rabbi Abbahu said: "If God will be with me and will keep me on this way" from slander, as you say, "And they bend their tongue, their bow of falsehood" (Jeremiah 9:2). "And will give me bread" from sexual immorality, as you say, "He has withheld nothing from me but you, since you are his wife" (Genesis 39:9). "And I return in peace to my father's house" from bloodshed. "And the LORD will be my God" from idolatry. The Rabbis interpret it regarding the whole matter: "If God will be with me and will keep me on this way" from sexual immorality and bloodshed and idolatry and slander. "Way" means nothing but idolatry, as you say, "Those who swear by the guilt of Samaria and say, As your god lives, O Dan, and as the way of Beersheba lives" (Amos 8:14). And "way" means nothing but sexual immorality "such is the way of an adulterous woman" (Proverbs 30:20). And "way" means nothing but bloodshed, "My son, do not walk in the way with them" (Proverbs 1:15), and it is written, "For their feet run to evil and hasten to shed blood" (Proverbs 1:16). And "way" means nothing but slander, as it is written, "And they bend their tongue, their bow of falsehood" (Jeremiah 9:2).