Midrash sobre Gênesis 22:12

(Numb. 30:3:) “When someone makes a vow (neder) to the Lord.” Let our master instruct us: How are konamot (i.e., vows of abstinence) and vows (nedarim)? Thus have our masters taught (in Ned. 2:1): [If one makes] a konam (i.e., a vow of absitinence) [that he will not sleep, that he will not speak; [if he utters a konam to his wife] “that I will not have marital relations with you,” such a one is liable to [the injunction] (in Numb. 30:3), “he shall not break his word.” [If he swears] an oath (shevu'ah)] that he will not sleep, that he will not walk, he is forbidden [to do so].¹Cf. Ned. 2:2-5; Ned. 13b, 14b-15a; 20a; yNed. 2:2-5 (37b-6); above, Lev. 1:16. Oaths (shevu'ot) carry more weight than vows (nedarim); and vows, than oaths. How so? [if one makes] a konam not to make a sukkah, not to take up a lulab, not to put on phylacteries, in the case of vows (nedarim) it is forbidden to put them on or to make them, even though they are commandments (of the Torah); but in the case of oaths (shevu'ot) it is permitted, because one does not swear to transgress against the commandments. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel, “Be circumspect with your vows (nedarim) and do not break them; for all who break vows (nedarim) end up in being faithless in oaths (shevu'ot).” And the one who is faithless in oaths is denying the Holy One, blessed be He through it and will never have forgiveness, as stated (in Exod. 20:7 = Deut. 5:11), “for the Lord will not exonerate [one who takes His name in vain].” [Yet] it is also written (in Jer. 4:2), “And you shall swear, ‘As the Lord lives,’ [in truth, in justice, and in righteousness].” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel, “Do not think that you have permission to swear in My name even in truth.²Numb. R. 22:1. You are not entitled to swear by My name unless you possess all the following attributes (of Deut. 10:20), “The Lord your God you shall fear, Him you shall serve, to Him you shall hold fast, [and by Him you shall swear]”: That you should be like those three who were called God-fearing, Abraham, Job, and Joseph: Abraham of whom it is written (in Gen. 22:12), “For now I know that you fear [God].” Concerning Job it is written (in Job 1:1), “the man was blameless [and upright, one who feared God].” Concerning Joseph it is written (in Gen. 42:18), “for I fear God.” Ergo (in Deut. 10:20), “The Lord your God you shall fear.” (Deut. 10:20, cont.:) “Him you shall serve.” [You do so,] if you turn [all] your attention to the Torah, fulfill [its] commandments and have no other work (abodah). It therefore is stated (ibid.), “Him you shall serve (rt.: 'bd).” (Deut. 10:20, cont.:) “To Him you shall hold fast.” Can one hold fast to the Divine Presence? Moreover, has it not already been stated (in Deut. 4:24), “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire?” It is simply [being stated with reference to] anyone marrying off his daughter to a scholar who reads [Scripture] and recites [Mishnah], that he engage in commerce³Gk.: pragmateia. for him and have him benefit from his assets.⁴Ket. 111b; cf. Sot. 14a. It is with reference to [such a] one that it is stated (in Deut. 10:20), “to him you shall hold fast.”
If you have all these [attributes] you may swear; if not, you are not entitled to swear. There is a story about King [Jannai], that he had two thousand towns and they all were destroyed because of a true oath. (Numbers 30:17:) “Between a man and his wife, between a father and his daughter.” Just like a man only annuls vows of self-affliction and matters between him and her, so too a father only annuls with regards to self-affliction and what is between him and her.

That you should be like those three who were called God-fearing, Abraham, Job, and Joseph:
Abraham of whom it is written (in Gen. 22:12): <FOR NOW I KNOW> THAT YOU FEAR GOD.
Concerning Job it is written (in Job 1:1): BLAMELESS AND UPRIGHT, ONE WHO FEARED GOD AND TURNED AWAY FROM EVIL.
Concerning Joseph it is written (in Gen. 42:18): FOR I FEAR GOD. Ergo (in Deut. 10:20):THE LORD YOUR GOD YOU SHALL FEAR.
[(Deut. 10:20, cont.:) HIM YOU SHALL SERVE.] <You do so,> if you turn <all> your attention to the Torah, fulfill <its> commandments and have no other work. It therefore is stated (ibid.): HIM YOU SHALL SERVE (rt.: 'BD).
(Deut. 10:20, cont.:) TO HIM YOU SHALL HOLD FAST. Can one hold fast to the Divine Presence? Moroever, has it not already been stated (in Deut. 4:24): FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE? It is simply <being stated with reference to> anyone marrying off his daughter to a scholar, who reads <Scripture> and recites <Mishnah>, that he engage in commerce⁴Gk.: pragmateia. for him and have him benefit from his assets.⁵Ket. 111b; cf. Sot. 14a. It is with reference to <such a> one that it is stated (in Deut. 10:20): TO HIM YOU SHALL HOLD FAST.

The midwives asked him, “How are we supposed to know if the baby is male or female?” Rabbi Chanina said: He gave them a sign. If the baby is facing downwards, know that it is a boy, for he is facing the earth from which he was created. And if the baby is facing upwards, know that it is a girl, for she is facing the ribs from which she was created.