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Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary

Genesis 15:12

A deep sleep fell upon Abram; partly natural, from his labour in killing and sacrificing those creatures; and partly sent upon him from God, to make way for the following representation. He seemed to be covered with a dreadful darkness, which was either,

1. A token of God's special presence: compare 1 Kings 8:12. Or,

2. A signification of the distressed and doleful condition of Abram's seed; for darkness in Scripture is frequently mentioned as an emblem or sign of great misery, as Psalms 88:6, Psalms 107:14, &c.

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See also Genesis 15:12 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 15:12. A DEEP SLEEP] תרדמה _tardemah_, the same word which is used to express the sleep into which Adam was cast, previous to the formation of Eve; Genesis 2:21. _A HORROR OF GREAT DAR...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - The Faith of Abram 1. דבר _dābār_, “a word, a thing;” the word being the sign of the thing. 2. אדני _'ǎdonāy_, “Adonai, the Lord;” related: “bring down, lay down.” This is the name usually read...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 15 THE FOURTH COMMUNICATION AND THE COVENANT AND THE VISION _ 1. The fourth communication (Genesis 15:1)_ 2. Abram's answer (Genesis 15:2) 3. The promised seed (Genesis 15:4) 4. Abram coun...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GENESIS 12:1 TO GENESIS 25:18. THE STORY OF ABRAHAM. In this section the three main sources, J. E, P are present. Gunkel has given strong reasons for holding that J is here made up of two main sources...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE MAKING OF THE COVENANT. In this scene Abraham is told that he is to inherit Canaan. He asks for confirmation of the promise. Yahweh bids him select three animals and two birds, such as were eligib...

  • B. W. Johnson's Bible Commentary

    AND WHEN THE SUN WAS GOING DOWN. The sunset of the day following the vision (compare verse. with 12);. day that had been spent in preparation for the ratification of the covenant, had come without th...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    ABRAM. Put to sleep so that he should have no part in it, and that the Covenant should be unconditional, in which "God was the one" and only contracting party (Galatians 1:3; Galatians 1:20). Compare...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _a deep sleep_ See note on the same word in Genesis 2:21. LXX ἔκστασις. _an horror of great darkness fell_ Lit. "an horror, even great darkness was falling." A vivid description of the sensation of t...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The Ratification of the Promise by a Solemn Covenant The occasion of the covenant is distinct from that described in Genesis 15:1; but the connexion of thought is obvious. It is the man of faith who...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    AND WHEN THE SUN WAS GOING DOWN— The original is, _and the sun was_ (לבוא _labo, ad intrandum,_ says Montanus) _about to enter,_ "the time of sun-rising approached," which I take to be the true sense...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PART TWENTY-EIGHT THE STORY OF ABRAHAM: DIVINE ELABORATION OF THE PROMISE AND THE COVENANT (Ch. 15) _1. The Biblical Account (ch. 15_) _1. After these things the word of Jehovah came unto Abram in a...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND WHEN THE SUN WAS GOING DOWN, A DEEP SLEEP FELL UPON ABRAM; AND, LO, AN HORROR OF GREAT DARKNESS FELL UPON HIM._ A deep sleep, х_ TARDEEMAAH_ (H8639)] - a preternatural sleep, produced by God (se...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    GOD PROMISES AN HEIR TO ABRAHAM AND THE LAND OF CANAAN FOR HIS DESCENDANTS. THE PROMISE IS RATIFIED BY A COVENANT The passage is from the Primitive source. A somewhat similar account from the Priestl...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    AN HORROR OF GREAT DARKNESS] lit. 'a terror, even great darkness,' preceding the wondrous sight of Genesis 15:17. 13. Abraham is given a glimpse of the fortunes of his descendants. A LAND THAT IS NOT...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 15 GOD MAKES PROMISES TO ABRAM V1 After these things the *Lord appeared to Abram. The *Lord said, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am protecting you....

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    WHEN THE SUN WAS GOING DOWN. — The time described was the evening following the night on which he had received the assurance that his seed should be countless as the stars. He had then, in his trance,...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יְהִ֤י הַ שֶּׁ֨מֶשׁ֙ לָ בֹ֔וא וְ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    COVENANT WITH ABRAM Genesis 15:1 OF the nine Divine manifestations made during Abram's life this is the fifth. At Ur, at Kharran, at the oak of Moreh, at the encampment between Bethel and Ai, and now...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    ABRAM'S VISION OF THE FUTURE Genesis 15:1 Abram had good reason to fear the vengeance of the defeated kings; but the divine voice reassured him. For all of us there is need of a shield, because the w...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This is the account of the fourth direct appearance of Jehovah to Abram and evidently it had direct connection with what had immediately preceded. Abram had passed through two conflicts, the first wit...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    GOD'S PROMISE TO PROTECT Abram may have faced threats from those around him, but God assured him that he was his shield (Genesis 15:1). That is, God stood ready to protect him like a shield would in b...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    THE PROMISED BLESSINGS The words "After these things" in verse one show the importance of remembering the victory God had given. Abram firmly believed God was also the source of his wealth. These fac...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    A deep sleep, or ecstasy, like that of Adam, chap. ii. 21, wherein God revealed to him the oppression of his posterity in Egypt, which filled him with such horror (Menochius) as we experience when som...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. The sun going down denotes the season of sacrifice, Daniel 9:21.Concerning the sleep,...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We have had hitherto God's account of that which He had made; then the trial and utter ruin of the creature, with the revelation of divine mercy in Christ the Lord. We have had in fine the judgment of...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    12._A deep sleep fell upon Abram_. The vision is now mingled with a dream. Thus the Lord here joins those two kinds of communication together, which I have before related from Numbers 12:6, where it i...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    When God had thus revealed Himself, according to His establishment of blessing in power on the earth, through the priestly king Melchisedec, naturally the actual blessing of the chosen people finds it...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND WHEN THE SUN WAS GOING DOWN,.... Just setting, descending below the hemisphere; or "about to enter" m into his chamber, as Piscator observes, from whence he went forth in the morning, as a strong...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. Ver. 12. _And when the sun was going down_] Heb., When he was ready to enter, to wit...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _And when the sun was going down_ About the time of the _evening oblation;_ for, he _abode by them_, praying and waiting till toward evening; _a deep sleep fell upon Abram_ Not a common sloop through...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 God encourageth Abram. 2 Abram complaineth for want of an heire. 4 God promiseth him a sonne, and a multiplying of his seed. 6 Abram is iustified by faith. 7 Canaan is promised againe, and confi...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The covenant Sacrifice...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. At the direction of God, Abram prepared the sacrificial animals, the heifer, the ram,...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    FOURTH SECTION _Abram the approved Warrior of Faith, and God his Shield and his Reward. His longing for an Heir, and his thought of Adoption anticipating any exigency in the case. The great Promise o...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    THE PROMISE OF GOD AND ITS CONFIRMATION Abram having proven that he was not seeking gain for himself, but depending on the God of heaven and earth, then the Lord gives him His word of wonderful encour...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    12-16 A deep sleep fell upon Abram; with this sleep a horror of great darkness fell upon him: a sudden change. The children of light do not always walk in the light. Several things were then foretold...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    "After 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." The Lord would not suffer His servant to be a loser, b...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 15:12 sun H8121 down H935 (H8800) sleep H8639 fell H5307 (H8804) Abram H87 horror H367 great...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And when the sun was going down a deep sleep fell on Abram, and lo, a horror of great darkness fell on him.' Words fail to describe the sacredness of that moment, and the awe and even godly terror th...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Genesis 15:1. _After 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. And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou g...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Abrahamic covenant confirmed and spiritual seed promised. CHARACTERS: Abram, God. CONCLUSION: The promises to faith are more certain than the conclusions of logic (Genesis 15:2-5). Faith i...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 15:1. _The Word of the Lord_the glorious person of the Messiah, the Angel of the covenant, came in his own name, Jehovah, God. He came with the full powers of future ages in his hand; the powe...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _An horror of great darkness fell upon him_ ABRAM’S HORROR IN THE NIGHT Abram’s condition here may be looked upon in two aspects. 1. As indicating the chequered experience of the good. 2. As sugge...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?_ THE CONFIRMATION OF FAITH I. FAITH IS CONFIRMED BY THE REMEMBRANCE OF GOD’S PAST DEALINGS. 1. We should call to mind what God is. 2. We sh...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 15:1 Verses Genesis 15:1 of ch. Genesis 15:1 focus on Abram’s concern that he is still childle

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 15:9 The ritual described here is possibly a type of oath. God is saying that he will become like the dead animals if he does not keep his word (see Jeremiah 34:18). Anothe

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 15:9. Take me.] _Heb. Take for me, i.e.,_ Take and offer for me. _Three years old._ Denoting, say Kalisch, “the perfection of their species.” GENESIS 15:10. DIVIDED THEM.] In...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 15:7 AND HE (Jehovah, or the Word of the Lord) SAID UNTO HIM (after the act of faith on the part of the patriarch, and the act of imputation or justification on the part of God, an...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now after these things (Genesis 15:1) That is, after the battle against these kings, after the meeting of Melchizedek, after the refusal of taking the reward and so forth from the king of Sodom. the...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    deep. Genesis 2:21 1 Samuel 26:12 Job 4:13 Job 4:14 Job 33:15...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    GOD'S COVENANT WITH ABRAM Genesis 15:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. The dependency of God. When men make a covenant they may break their covenant. God's covenants are certified. God covenanted with Noah...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    And when the sun was going down — About the time of the evening oblation. Early in the morning, while the stars were yet to be seen, God had given him orders concerning the sacrifices, Genesis 15:5, a...

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