Genesis
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Genesis 15
Genesis 15
1After these things the word of Jehovah came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
1After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
Commentary · verse 1
2And Abram said, O Lord Jehovah, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and he that shall be possessor of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?
3And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
4And, behold, the word of Jehovah came unto him, saying, This man shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
2And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
3And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
4And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
Commentary · verses 2-4
Abram's response to God concerning "exceeding great reward" was to ask a question: what could God possibly give him that would matter, seeing that he did not have a son? Abram did not have a son to pass this reward to. However, God stated Abram's heir would come from his "own bowels." Remember, Abram was at least 75 years old (Genesis 12:4) at this time.
5And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and number the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
5And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
Commentary · verse 5
"Stars" represented "Godly Seed."
6And he believed in Jehovah; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.
6And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Commentary · verse 6
Abram's belief was in faith. Faith is "a belief in something that you cannot see, either because it is invisible or it is yet to happen." Abram believed he would have a seed that would be as the stars in quantity, which was something that had not yet happened. Abram's faith in God was counted to him for Righteousness for Salvation. Paul referenced this verse in Romans 4:23. James 2:23 also referenced this verse.
Doctrines on this passage
7And he said unto him, I am Jehovah that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.
7And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.
Commentary · verse 7
God gave Abram understanding and experience.
8And he said, O Lord Jehovah, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?
8And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?
Commentary · verse 8
Abram wanted confirmation of this inheritance.
9And he said unto him, Take me a heifer three years old, and a she-goat three years old, and a ram three years old, and a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon.
10And he took him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each half over against the other: but the birds divided he not.
9And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
10And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.
Commentary · verses 9-10
With the exception of the birds, the animals were divided in half.
11And the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.
12And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, a horror of great darkness fell upon him.
13And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
11And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.
12And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
13And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
Commentary · verses 11-13
This event occurred roughly halfway between the Flood and Jehovah leading the children of Israel out of Egypt and through the Red Sea, about 430 years between each of these.
14and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
14And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
Commentary · verse 14
The Exodus was foretold.
15But thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.
16And in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.
17And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch that passed between these pieces.
15And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.
16But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
17And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
Commentary · verses 15-17
Verses 9-17 symbolized sexual intercourse: God was taking Abram's virginity. A smoking furnace passed between bloody, furry flesh. Notice, consensual sexual intercourse covers all five of the requirements for a covenant that we covered in Genesis 9 with Noah's Covenant:
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go through ("passing between") something,
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bloodshed,
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sharing,
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agreement, and
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death.
Here, we saw Abram's actions covered all five requirements for a covenant.
18In that day Jehovah made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
18In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
Commentary · verse 18
This verse began the 4th Dispensation - Abraham. God's Covenant with Abram allowed God to speak through the patriarchs of one nation in order to be an example to the other nations during this dispensation.
Doctrines on this passage
19the Kenite, and the Kenizzite, and the Kadmonite, 20and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Rephaim, 21and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Girgashite, and the Jebusite.
19The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,
20And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,
21And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.
Commentary · verses 19-21
Verses 19-21 were a record of the people that were occupying the land that God gave to Abram.
Commentary · verse 21
Genesis 13-15 presented the beginning of the 4th Dispensation.
God gave Abram a vision after he saved Lot, tithed, and received communion. God stated He was Abram's "shield" and his "exceeding great reward." Abram greatly benefited from protecting Lot.