And when the sun was going down
Just setting, descending below the hemisphere; or "about to
enter" F13 into his chamber, as Piscator
observes, from whence he went forth in the morning, as a strong
man to run his race; which at sunset is finished according to
human appearance, and the common apprehensions of men, who have
thought it goes under the earth, or drops into the ocean, see (
Psalms 19:5 )
:
a deep sleep fell upon Abram:
through the great fatigue he had had the preceding day, in doing
what is before related; or rather through a more than ordinary
influence of God upon him, which bound up his senses, and cast
him into an ecstasy or trance, when he had the following prophecy
and vision, which more fully explained to him the emblem he had
been conversant with; this was such a sleep as fell on Adam, (
Genesis
2:21 ) :
and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon
him;
or such darkness as was horrible and terrible, so it was
represented to his mind in vision; which signified the great
afflictions after expressed by darkness, that should come upon
his children in Egypt and elsewhere: and so Jarchi says it refers
to the distresses and darkness of their captivities in Egypt, and
in other places. The Targumists observe, that Abram in this
vision saw the four monarchies that should bring his children
into bondage.