Midrash su Genesi 28:21

(Gen. 32:4:) THEN JACOB SENT….] This text is related (to Prov. 26:17): A PASSER-BY WHO MEDDLES IN A QUARREL NOT HIS OWN IS LIKE ONE WHO SEIZES A DOG BY THE EARS.³Cf. Gen. R. 78:3. Who is this person? This is Jacob. When he had set out from his father's house, what is written (in Gen. 28:20)? THEN JACOB VOWED A VOW. What did he say (ibid., cont.]:)? IF GOD IS WITH ME < … > Thus did the Holy One respond to him (in vs. 15): SEE I AM WITH YOU.⁴Gen. R. 70:4 reports a discussion between R. Ayyevu and R. Jonathan over whether vss. 15 and 20 are disarranged or whether the Holy One simply anticipated Jacob’s vow. Our masters have said: He responded to him on every < point > except for sustenance.⁵Gk.: pronoos (“thinking beforehand”). Gen. R. 69:6. R. Osha'ya said: He also responded to him for sustenance, since it is stated (in Gen. 28:15): FOR I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU UNTIL ('D 'ShR) I HAVE DONE WHAT ('ShR) I PROMISED YOU. Why did he say two times: ('ShR 'ShR)? He spoke, as it were, something difficult. R. Osha'ya said: The Holy One said to him: Blessed (rt.: 'ShR) am I and blessed (rt.: 'ShR) are you when I do this thing for you. Again he demanded < as a condition > (in Gen. 28:21): AND IF I RETURN SAFELY. He said to him (in vs. 15): AND I WILL BRING YOU BACK < UNTO THIS LAND >. R. Hanina b. R. Isaac said: Blessed (rt.: 'ShR) is one born of woman who has heard this from his Creator. See, whatever he demanded from his Creator he promised him. Then, with these promises, he sends and says (in Gen. 32:5 [4]): THUS YOU SHALL SAY TO MY LORD ESAU. Ergo, it is well stated (in Prov. 25:26): < A PASSER-BY WHO MEDDLES IN A QUARREL NOT HIS OWN IS > LIKE ONE WHO SEIZES A DOG BY THE EARS.⁶The text from Proverbs seems to assume a situation like this: Jacob’s welfare was a matter between himself and his Creator; so why should he get involved with Esau.

Another interpretation (of Gen. 28:10): AND JACOB SET OUT. This text is related (to Prov. 6:22): WHEN YOU WALK, IT (your father's commandment and your mother's torah) WILL GUIDE YOU. This refers to Jacob, who had been occupied with Torah when he set out from his father's house, and he did not leave it behind. Thus it is stated (ibid., cont.): IN YOUR LYING DOWN, IT WILL WATCH OVER YOU. When? (In Gen. 28:11:) THEN HE TOOK ONE OF THE STONES OF THE PLACE, [SET IT UNDER HIS HEAD, AND LAY DOWN IN THAT PLACE]. When he lay down, it guarded him. (Prov. 6:22, cont.:) AND WHEN YOU AWAKEN, IT WILL CONVERSE WITH YOU. [(Gen. 28:16:) THEN JACOB AWAKENED FROM HIS SLEEP.]

Ergo (in Job 22:28): WHEN YOU DECREE SOMETHING, IT SHALL COME TO PASS FOR YOU; AND LIGHT SHALL SHINE UPON YOUR WAYS. < The plural, WAYS, signifies > two times. Thus the Holy One caused the sun to go down ahead of time when he wanted to go forth and when he wanted to speak with him. (Gen. 28:12:) AND JACOB SET OUT FROM BEERSHEBA. What is written there (in vs. 13)? AND BEHOLD, THE LORD STOOD OVER HIM (on Jacob's ladder)….⁴²According to Gen. R. 68:10, God caused the sun to set prematurely in order to speak with Jacob in privacy. Also, when he came < back >, he made the sun rise for him ahead of time (according to Gen. 32:32 [31]): THE SUN ROSE FOR HIM. Now did the sun rise, not over the whole world, but over Jacob alone? < It > merely < rose > in order to heal him (from his lameness).⁴³Sanh. 95b; Rashi on Gen. 32:32. Thus it is stated (in Mal. 3:20 [4:2]): BUT FOR YOU WHO FEAR MY NAME A SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL ARISE < WITH HEALING IN ITS WINGS >. R. Berekhyah the Priest said: What is the meaning of (Gen. 32:32 [31]): THE SUN ROSE FOR HIM? That he made the sun rise for him [three hours] ahead of time just as it had set for him ahead of time. Jacob said: On five things did the Holy One make agreements with me (in Gen. 28:20-21) and carry them out. As for me, should I not on my part carry out what I said, now that I have returned < safely unto my father's house > (in accordance with Gen. 28:21)? Immediately (according to Gen. 33:20), HE ERECTED AN ALTAR THERE AND CALLED IT EL, THE GOD OF ISRAEL. When Israel endured (as a people), the Holy One said to Moses: Moses, the five things that I did with Jacob I have done for his children.

(Gen. 28:20:) IF GOD IS WITH ME. (Cf. Exod. 13:21:) AND THE LORD WENT BEFORE THEM BY DAY.
(Gen. 28:20, cont.:) PROTECTS ME. Thus I protected them from Pharaoh and his associates, and I overthrew Pharaoh and his whole army. So also with Amalek (in Exod. 17:13): AND JOSHUA OVERTHREW AMALEK AND HIS PEOPLE.
(Gen. 28:20, cont.:) AND GIVES ME FOOD TO EAT. (Cf. Exod. 16:4:) BEHOLD, I WILL RAIN DOWN BREAD FROM THE HEAVENS FOR YOU.
(Gen. 28:20, cont.:) AND CLOTHING TO PUT ON. (Cf. Deut. 8:4:) YOUR CLOTHING DID NOT WEAR OUT ON YOU.
(Gen. 28:21:) AND IF I RETURN SAFELY. (Cf. Exod. 18:23:) ALL THIS PEOPLE SHALL ALSO COME TO ITS PLACE SAFELY.