Genesis 15:9-17

God's Covenant with Abram

9 He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon." 10 And he brought him all these, n cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But o he did not cut the birds in half. 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

12 As the sun was going down, a p deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then the Lord said to Abram, "Know for certain q that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and r they will be afflicted for s four hundred years. 14 But t I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward u they shall come out with great possessions. 15 As for yourself, you shall go to your fathers in peace; v you shall be buried in a good old age. 16 And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for w the iniquity of the Amorites x is not yet complete."

17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.

  1. Cross References
    Jeremiah 34:18 - 19
    And the men who transgressed my covenant and did not keep the terms of the covenant that they made before me, I will make them like the calf that they cut in two and passed between its parts -
  2. Cross References
    Leviticus 1:17
    He shall tear it open by its wings, but shall not sever it completely. And the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
  3. Cross References
    Genesis 2:21
    So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.
  4. Cross References
    Acts 7:6 - 7
    And God spoke to this effect - that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years.
  5. Cross References
    Exodus 1:11 - 12
    Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses.
    Exodus 3:7
    Then the Lord said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings.
  6. Cross References
    Acts 7:6
    And God spoke to this effect - that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years.
    Exodus 12:40 - 41
    The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years.
    Galatians 3:17
    This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void.
  7. Cross References
    Exodus 6:6
    Say therefore to the people of Israel, 'I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.
  8. Cross References
    Exodus 12:36
    And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.
    Psalms 105:37
    Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold, and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.
  9. Cross References
    Genesis 25:8
    Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.
  10. Cross References
    1 Kings 21:26
    He acted very abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the Lord cast out before the people of Israel.)
    Amos 2:9
    Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars and who was as strong as the oaks; I destroyed his fruit above and his roots beneath.
  11. Cross References
    Daniel 8:23
    And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise.
    Matthew 23:32
    Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.
    1 Thessalonians 2:16
    By hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved - so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But God's wrath has come upon them at last!
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.