CHAPTER XV _God appears to Abram in a vision, and gives him great_ _encouragement_, 1. _Abram's request and complaint_, 2, 3. _God promises him a son_, 4; _and an exceedingly numerous posterity_, 5. _Abram credits the promise, and his faith is counted unto_ _him for righteousness_, 6. _Jehov... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 15:2. _WHAT WILT THOU GIVE ME, SEEING I GO CHILDLESS_] The anxiety of the Asiatics to have offspring is intense and universal. Among the _Hindoos_ the want of children renders all other blessings of no esteem. See _Ward_. _AND THE STEWARD OF MY HOUSE_] Abram, understanding the promis... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 15:5. _LOOK NOW TOWARD HEAVEN_] It appears that this whole transaction took place in the _evening_; Genesis 13:14. Abram had either two visions, that recorded in Genesis 15:1, and that in Genesis 15:12, c. or what is mentioned in the beginning of this chapter is a part of the occurren... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 15:6. _AND HE BELIEVED IN THE LORD; AND HE COUNTED IT TO HIM_ _FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS._] This I conceive to be one of the most important passages in the whole Old Testament. It properly contains and specifies that doctrine of _justification by faith_ which engrosses so considerable a share... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 15:7. _UR OF THE CHALDEES_] See Clarke on Ge 11:31... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 15:8. _AND HE SAID, LORD GOD_] אדני יהוה _Adonai Yehovah, my_ _Lord Jehovah_. Adonai is the word which the Jews in reading always substitute for _Jehovah_, as they count it impious to pronounce this name. _Adonai_ signifies my _director, basis, supporter, prop_, or _stay_; and scarcel... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 15:9. TAKE ME A HEIFER] עגלה _eglah_, a _she-calf_; a _she-goat_, עז ez, a goat, male or female, but distinguished here by the _feminine adjective_; משלשת meshullesheth, a _three-yearling_; a _ram_, איל ayil; a _turtle-dove_, תר tor, from which come _turtur_ and _turtle; young pigeon_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 15:10. _DIVIDED THEM IN THE MIDST_] The ancient method of making covenants. as well as the original word, have been already alluded to, and in a general way explained. See Genesis 6:18. The word _covenant_ from _con_, together, and _venio_, I come, signifies an agreement, association,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 15:11. _AND WHEN THE FOWLS_] העיט _haayit_, birds of prey, _came down upon the carcasses_ to devour them, _Abram_, who stood by his sacrifice waiting for the manifestation of GOD, who had ordered him to prepare for the ratification of the covenant, _drove_ _them away_, that they might... [ Continue Reading ]
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 DARKNESS_] Which God designed to be expressive of the affliction and misery into which his posterity sho... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 15:13. _FOUR HUNDRED YEARS_] "Which began," says Mr. Ainsworth, "when Ishmael, son of Hagar, mocked and persecuted Isaac, Genesis 21:9; Galatians 4:29; which fell out _thirty_ years after the promise, Genesis 12:3; which promise was _four hundred and thirty_ years before the law, Galat... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 15:14. _AND ALSO THAT NATION, C._] How remarkably was this promise fulfilled, in the redemption of Israel from its bondage, in the plagues and destruction of the Egyptians, and in the immense wealth which the Israelites brought out of Egypt! Not a more circumstantial or literally fulfi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 15:15. _THOU SHALT GO TO THY FATHERS IN PEACE_] This verse strongly implies the immortality of the soul, and a state of separate existence. He was gathered to his fathers- introduced into the place where separate spirits are kept, waiting for the general resurrection. Two things seem t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 15:16. _IN THE FOURTH GENERATION_] In former times most people counted by _generations_, to each of which was assigned a term of years amounting to 20, 25, 30, 33, 100, 108, or 110; for the _generation_ was of various lengths among various people, at different times. It is probable th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 15:17. _SMOKING FURNACE AND A BURNING LAMP_] Probably the smoking furnace might be designed as an emblem of the sore afflictions of the Israelites in Egypt; but the _burning lamp_ was certainly the _symbol of the Divine presence_, which, passing between the pieces, ratified the covenan... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 15:18. _THE LORD MADE A COVENANT_] כרת ברית _carath berith_ signifies to _cut_ a _covenant_, or rather the covenant _sacrifice_; for as no covenant was made without one, and the creature was _cut_ _in two_ that the contracting parties might pass between the pieces, hence _cutting the c... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 15:19. _THE KENITES, C._] Here are _ten_ nations mentioned, though afterwards reckoned but _seven_ see Deuteronomy 7:1; Acts 13:19. Probably some of them which existed in Abram's time had been blended with others before the time of Moses, so that _seven_ only out of the _ten_ then rema... [ Continue Reading ]