Genesis 15:8-18

8 He replied, "ADONAI, God, how am I to know that I will possess it?"

9 He answered him, "Bring me a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a dove and a young pigeon."

10 He brought him all these, cut the animals in two and placed the pieces opposite each other; but he didn't cut the birds in half.

11 Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Avram drove them away.

12 As the sun was about to set, a deep sleep fell on Avram; horror and great darkness came over him.

13 ADONAI said to Avram, "Know this for certain: your descendants will be foreigners in a land that is not theirs. They will be slaves and held in oppression there four hundred years.

14 But I will also judge that nation, the one that makes them slaves. Afterwards, they will leave with many possessions.

15 As for you, you will join your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age.

16 Only in the fourth generation will your descendants come back here, because only then will the Emori be ripe for punishment."

17 After the sun had set and there was thick darkness, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch appeared, which passed between these animal parts.

18 That day ADONAI made a covenant with Avram: "I have given this land to your descendants - from the Vadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River -

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.