Genesis 28:20
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,
And Jacob vowed a vow,.... Which is the first vow we read of in Scripture:
saying, If God will be with me; the word if is not a sign of doubting, but is either an adverb of time, and may be rendered, "when God shall be with me" {t}; or as a supposition, expressive of an inference or conclusion drawn, "seeing God will be with me" {u}; which he had the utmost reason to believe he would, since he had not only promised it, but had so lately granted him his presence in a very singular and remarkable manner, referring to the promise of God, Genesis 28:15:
and will keep me in this way that I go; as he had said he would, and as hitherto he had, and for the future he had reason to believe he still would:
and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on; which is included in that clause, "I will not leave thee", &c. Genesis 28:15, even not without food and raiment; which is all men can desire or use, and therefore with them should be content.
{t} Ma "quum", Junius & Tremellius; so Ainsworth.
{u} Quandoquidem, Tigurine version.