Genesis 15:11-21

11 Birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.

12 As the sun was setting, a deep sleep^[a] fell on Abram, and suddenly a terror and great darkness descended on him.

13 Then the Lord said to Abram, "Know this for certain: Your offspring will be strangers^[b] in a land that does not belong to them; they will be enslaved and oppressed^[c] 400 years.^[d]

14 However, I will judge the nation they serve,^[e] and afterwards they will go out with many possessions.^[f]

15 But you will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.

16 In the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure."^[g]

17 When the sun had set and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the divided [animals].

18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, "I give this land to your offspring, from the brook of Egypt to the Euphrates River:^[h]

19 [the land of] the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,

20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaim,

21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites."

Genesis 15:11-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 15

This chapter informs us of a gracious appearance of God to Abram, and of a kind promise made unto him, Ge 15:1; of Abram's request for an heir, Ge 15:2,3; of an answer to it, that he should have one, and even a numberless seed, Ge 15:4,5; which he gave credit to, Ge 15:6; upon which he has a fresh promise of the land of Canaan, Ge 15:7; of his inheriting of which he desires a sign, and this was given him, Ge 15:8-12; and at the same time it was predicted to him how long his posterity should be afflicted in a land not theirs, and afterwards come out with great substance, Ge 15:13-16; and the grant of the land of Canaan to his seed is renewed, Ge 15:17-21.

Footnotes

• [a] Gn 2:21
• [b] Ex 22:21; 23:9
• [c] Lit will serve them and they will oppress them
• [d] Ex 12:40
• [e] Ex 6:6; 7:4; 12:12
• [f] Ex 3:22
• [g] Lit Amorites is not yet complete
• [h] Lit the great river, the river Euphrates