And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
Jacob vowed a vow. This vow has often been presented in a light injurious to the character of Jacob, as indicating that his mind was so wholly engrossed with his present state and necessities that he felt no interest in the temporal blessings guaranteed to his posterity, or in the spiritual good which, through their medium, would be conveyed, in remote ages, to the world at large; and that, so far from having exalted views of the providential government of God, he confined his thoughts exclusively to his personal affairs and his immediate protection, as well as suspended his devotedness to the divine service on the condition of God's pledges being redeemed.
But it should be borne in mind that it was in consequence of the vision, and of the promises made to him during the night, in the most unexpected manner, by the Divine Being, that he vowed his vow the next morning-a vow indicative of his profound feelings of gratitude, as well as of reverence, and intended to be simply responsive to the terms in which the grace of his heavenly Benefactor and Guardian was tendered. Nay, so far is he from betraying a selfish and worldly spirit, the moderation of his desires is remarkable; and the vow, when placed in a just light, will be seen to evince the simplicity and the piety of Jacob's mind.
Our translators have given rise to the mistaken impressions that so generally prevail in regard to Jacob's vow, by the insertion of the word "then," in Genesis 28:21. But the apodosis properly begins in the verse following-`then this stone,' etc. The words of Jacob are not to be considered as implying a doubt, far less as stating the condition or terms on which he would dedicate himself to God. Let "if" be changed into 'since,' and the language will appear a proper expression of Jacob's faith-an evidence of his having truly embraced the promise. And the vow as recorded should stand thus: 'If (since) God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in peace; and if (since) the Lord shall be my God, then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house,' where I shall erect an altar and worship Him.
And of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee. The appropriation of this proportion of income or produce for pious or charitable purposes seems to have been a primitive practice, and hence, Jacob vowed to give a tenth of whatever gains he might acquire through the blessing of Providence (Genesis 14:20). It was continued under the Mosaic economy, with this difference that what had been in patriarchal times a free-will offering, was made a kind of tax, a regular impost for supporting the consecrated tribe of Levi.