Genesis 15

Abram Promised a Son

1 After these things ¹the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "²Do not fear, Abram, I am ³a shield to you; Your ⁴reward shall be very great."

2 Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir * of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?"

3 And Abram said, "Since You have given no offspring to me, one ⁵born in my house is my heir."

4 Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir; ⁶but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir."

5 And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and ⁷count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "⁸So shall your descendants be."

6 ⁹Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.

7 And He said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you out of ¹⁰Ur of the Chaldeans, to ¹¹give you this land to possess it."

8 He said, "O Lord GOD, ¹²how may I know that I will possess it?"

9 So He said to him, "Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon."

10 Then he brought all these to Him and ¹³cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he ¹⁴did not cut the birds.

11 The birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.

12 Now when the sun was going down, ¹⁵a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him.

13 God said to Abram, "Know for certain that ¹⁶your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where ¹⁷they will be enslaved and oppressed ¹⁸four hundred years.

14 "But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward * they will come out ¹⁹with many possessions.

15 "As for you, ²⁰you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age.

16 "Then in ²¹the fourth generation they will return here, for ²²the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet * complete."

17 It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which ²³passed between these pieces.

18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "²⁴To your descendants I have given this land, From ²⁵the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:

19 ²⁶the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite

20 and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim

21 and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite."

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Genesis 15 Commentary

Chapter 15

God encourages Abram. (1) The Divine promise, Abraham is justified by faith. (2-6) God promises Canaan to Abraham for an inheritance. (7-11) The promise confirmed in a vision. (12-16) The promise confirmed by a sign. (17-21)

Verse 1 God assured Abram of safety and happiness; that he should for ever be safe. I am thy shield; or, I am a shield to thee, present with thee, actually caring for thee. The consideration that God himself is, and will be a shield to his people, to secure them from all evils, a shield ready to them, and a shield round about them, should silence all perplexing, tormenting fears.

Verses 2-6 Though we must never complain of God, yet we have leave to complain to him; and to state all our grievances. It is ease to a burdened spirit, to open its case to a faithful and compassionate friend. Abram's complaint is, that he had no child; that he was never likely to have any; that the want of a son was so great a trouble to him, that it took away all his comfort. If we suppose that Abram looked no further than outward comfort, this complaint was to be blamed. But if we suppose that Abram herein had reference to the promised Seed, his desire was very commendable. Till we have evidence of our interest in Christ, we should not rest satisfied; what will all avail me, if I go Christless? If we continue instant in prayer, yet pray with humble submission to the Divine will, we shall not seek in vain. God gave Abram an express promise of a son. Christians may believe in God with respect to the common concerns of this life; but the faith by which they are justified, always has respect to the person and work of Christ. Abram believed in God as promising Christ; they believe in him as having raised him from the dead, ( Romans 4:24 ) . Through faith in his blood they obtain forgiveness of sins.

Verses 7-11 Assurance was given to Abram of the land of Canaan for an inheritance. God never promises more than he is able to perform, as men often do. Abram did as God commanded him. He divided the beasts in the midst, according to the ceremony used in confirming covenants, ( jeremiah 34:18 jeremiah 34:19 ) . Having prepared according to God's appointment, he set himself to wait for the sign God might give him. A watch must be kept upon our spiritual sacrifices. When vain thoughts, like these fowls, come down upon our sacrifices, we must drive them away, and seek to attend on God without distraction.

Verses 12-16 A deep sleep fell upon Abram; with this sleep a horror of great darkness fell upon him: a sudden change. The children of light do not always walk in the light. Several things were then foretold. 1. The suffering state of Abram's seed for a long time. They shall be strangers. The heirs of heaven are strangers on earth. They shall be servants; but Canaanites serve under a curse, the Hebrews under a blessing. They shall be suffers. Those that are blessed and beloved of God, are often sorely afflicted by wicked men. 2. The judgment of the enemies of Abram's seed. Though God may allow persecutors and oppressors to trample upon his people a great while, he will certainly reckon with them at last. 3. That great event, the deliverance of Abram's seed out of Egypt, is here foretold. 4. Their happy settlement in Canaan. They shall come hither again. The measure of sin fills gradually. Some people's measure of sin fills slowly. The knowledge of future events would seldom add to our comfort. In the most favoured families, and most happy lives, there are so many afflictions, that it is merciful in God to conceal what will befall us and ours.

Verses 17-21 The smoking furnace and the burning lamp, probably represented the Israelites' severe trials and joyful deliverance, with their gracious supports in the mean time. It is probable that this furnace and lamp, which passed between the pieces, burned and consumed them, and so completed the sacrifice, and testified God's acceptance of it. So it intimates that God's covenants with man are made by sacrifice, ( Psalms 50:5 ) . And we may know that he accepts our sacrifices, if he kindles in our souls pious and devout affections. The bounds of the land granted are stated. Several nations, or tribes, are spoken of, that must be cast out to make room for the seed of Abram. In this chapter we perceive in Abram faith struggling against, and triumphing over, unbelief. Wonder not, believers, if you meet with seasons of darkness and distress. But it is not the will of God that you should be cast down: fear not; for all that he was to Abram he will be to you.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Cross References 26

1. Genesis 15:4; Genesis 46:2; 1 Samuel 15:10
2. Genesis 21:17; Genesis 26:24; Isaiah 41:10
3. Deuteronomy 33:29
4. Numbers 18:20; Psalms 58:11
5. Genesis 14:14
6. Galatians 4:28
7. Genesis 22:17; Genesis 26:4; Deuteronomy 1:10
8. Exodus 32:13; Romans 4:18; Hebrews 11:12
9. Rom 4:3, 20-22; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23
10. Genesis 11:31
11. Genesis 13:15, 17
12. Judges 6:36-40; Luke 1:18
13. Genesis 15:17
14. Leviticus 1:17
15. Genesis 2:21; Genesis 28:11; Job 33:15
16. Acts 7:6, 17
17. Exodus 1:11; Deuteronomy 5:15
18. Exodus 12:40; Galatians 3:17
19. Exodus 12:32-38
20. Genesis 25:8; Genesis 47:30
21. Genesis 15:13
22. Leviticus 18:24-28
23. Jeremiah 34:18, 19
24. Genesis 17:8; Joshua 21:43; Acts 7:5
25. Exodus 23:31; Numbers 34:1-15; Deuteronomy 1:7, 8
26. Exodus 3:17; Exodus 23:28; Joshua 24:11; Nehemiah 9:8

Footnotes 20

[a]. Or "Your very great reward"
[b]. Heb "YHWH," usually rendered LORD
[c]. Lit "go"
[d]. Lit "son of acquisition"
[e]. Lit "Behold"
[f]. Lit "seed"
[g]. Lit "and behold, a son of"
[h]. Lit "inward parts"
[i]. Lit "seed"
[j]. Or "inherit"
[k]. Heb "YHWH," usually rendered LORD
[l]. Or "inherit"
[m]. Lit "Take"
[n]. Lit "took"
[o]. Lit "in the midst"
[p]. Or "a terror of great darkness"
[q]. Lit "seed"
[r]. Lit "and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them"
[s]. Lit "great"
[t]. Lit "seed"

Chapter Summary

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.