Genesis 15:8-18

8 But he said, "Lord God , how can I know that I will possess it?"

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

10 So he brought all these to Him, split them down the middle, and laid the pieces opposite each other, but he did not cut up the birds.

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]

Genesis 15:8-18 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