Genesis 15:16

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 15:16

fourth = Levi, Kohath, Amram, Moses; (or Levi), Jochebed (born in Egypt). iniquity. Hebrew. 'avon. See App-44 . not yet. Another mark of the corruption of the Canaanite nations through the Nephilim and Rephaim. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 15:15-17

"But thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. And in the fourth generation shall they come hither again; for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full. And it came to pass when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch that passed between these pieces.""Thou shalt go to thy fathers ..." This cannot apply to the place where Abram was buried, for he was not buried with his fathers, but in the cave of Machpelah. "We... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 15:16

Genesis 15:16. In the fourth generation— Either, 1st, from the descent into AEgypt; and thus Caleb was the fourth from Judah; and Moses and Aaron the fourth from Levi: or, 2nd, in the fourth generation of the Amorites; a sense which seems the more probable from the words immediately following, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. The Amorites are here put for the whole inhabitants of Canaan, as being the most considerable for their power, Amo 2:9 and being also the people among... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 15:16

The Hebrew word translated "generation" really refers to a lifetime, which at this period in history was about 100 years. [Note: See W. F. Albright, The Biblical Period from Abraham to Ezra, p. 9; and Theological Workbook of the Old Testament, s.v., "dor," by Robert D. Culver, 1:186-87.] This seems a better explanation than that four literal generations are in view. The writer mentioned four literal generations in Exodus 6:16-20 and Numbers 26:58-59, but there were quite evidently gaps in those... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 15:1-21

God Promises an Heir to Abraham and the Land of Canaan for his Descendants. The Promise is Ratified by a CovenantThe passage is from the Primitive source. A somewhat similar account from the Priestly narrative is given in Genesis 17. The repetition shows the importance attached by the compiler of Genesis to these records of the promises as testifying to the divine purposes for the Hebrew people.1. Vision] probably a trance, with the senses dormant, but the mind awake to spiritual impressions:... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 15:16

(16) The fourth generation.—Heb., dôr. (See Note on Genesis 6:9.) As the four generations are identical with the four centuries of Genesis 15:13, we have here an undesigned testimony to the long duration of human life. So Abram was 100 years old when Isaac was born, and Isaac was 60 at the birth of his children, and Jacob 64 years of age at his marriage. But the word dôr had probably come down from a remote antiquity, and, like the Latin word seculum, signified a century.The iniquity of the... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Genesis 15:1-21

Genesis 15:0 'Read the fifteenth chapter with extreme care. If you have a good memory, learn it by heart from beginning to end; it is one of the most sublime and pregnant passages in the entire compass of ancient literature.' Ruskin, Fors Clarigeva (lxiv). References. XV. 1. J. Parker, Adam, Noah, and Abraham, p. 120. J. Thomas, Myrtle Street Pulpit, vol. ii. p. 341. Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xlix. No. 2814. XV. 2. J. Kelly, Christian World Pulpit, vol. xviii. p. 165. XV. 5, 6. Archbishop... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Genesis 15:1-21

COVENANT WITH ABRAMGenesis 15:1-21OF 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 at Mamre, he received guidance and encouragement from God. Different terms are used regarding these manifestations. Sometimes it is said "The Lord appeared unto him"; here for the first time in the course of God’s revelation occurs that expression which afterwards became normal, "The word of the... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Genesis 15:1-21

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 ) 3. The promised seed (Genesis 15:4-5 ) 4. Abram counted righteous (Genesis 15:6 ) 5. Continued communication (Genesis 15:7-8 ) 6. The divided animals (Genesis 15:9-11 ) 7. The vision (Genesis 15:12-17 ) 8. The covenant made (Genesis 15:18-21 ) The connection with the previous chapter is extremely precious. Abram had honored the Lord... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Genesis 15:16

15:16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the {e} iniquity of the Amorites [is] not yet full.(e) Though God tolerates the wicked for a time, yet his vengeance falls on them when the measure of their wickedness is full. read more