Genesis 15:12-18 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 15:12-16

We have here a full and particular discovery made to Abram of God's purposes concerning his seed. Observe, I. The time when God came to him with this discovery: When the sun was going down, or declining, about the time of the evening oblation, 1 Kgs. 18:36; Dan. 9:21. Early in the morning, before day, while the stars were yet to be seen, God had given him orders concerning the sacrifices (Gen. 15:5), and we may suppose it was, at least, his morning's work to prepare them and set them in order;... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 15:17-21

Here is, I. The covenant ratified (Gen. 15:17); the sign which Abram desired was given, at length, when the sun had gone down, so that it was dark; for that was a dark dispensation. 1. The smoking furnace signified the affliction of his seed in Egypt. They were there in the iron furnace (Deut. 4:20), the furnace of affliction (Isa. 48:10), labouring in the very fire. They were there in the smoke, their eyes darkened, that they could not see to the end of their troubles, and themselves at a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 15:12

And when the sun was going down ,.... Just setting, descending below the hemisphere; or "about to enter" F13 ויהי השמש לבוא "et fuit sol ad intrandum", Montanus, Piscator. into his chamber, as Piscator observes, from whence he went forth in the morning, as a strong man to run his race; which at sunset is finished according to human appearance, and the common apprehensions of men, who have thought it goes under the earth, or drops into the ocean, see Psalm 19:5 , a deep sleep... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 15:13

And he said unto Abram ,.... While he was in a deep sleep; this he said to him in a vision of prophecy: know of a surety , or "in knowing thou shall or mayest know" F14 ידע תדע "cognoscendo cognosces", Pagninus, Montanus; so Schmidt. ; and be assured of it, being now told it by the Lord himself, who foreknows all things that ever come to pass; many of which he acquaints his people with beforehand, nor would he hide from Abram his friend what should befall his posterity, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 15:14

And also that nation whom they shall serve will I judge ,.... It is not said "the land" in which they were strangers, though God did judge, condemn, and punish the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, and drove them out of it, to make way for Israel; but the "nation" they should "serve", meaning the Egyptians, to whom they became servants, and were very hardly and severely used by them; those the Lord threatens to enter into judgment with, and take vengeance upon them, as he did by inflicting... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 15:15

And thou shall go to thy fathers in peace ,.... Or die, which is a going the way of all flesh, to a man's long home, out of this world to another, to the world of spirits, to those that are gone before them; which is no inconsiderable proof of the immortality of the soul. Jarchi infers from hence, that Terah, Abram's father, was a penitent, and died a good man, and went to heaven, the place and state of the blessed, whither Abram should go at death; but the phrase of going to the fathers is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 15:16

And in the fourth generation they shall come hither again ,.... The seed of Abram were in the land of Canaan before their descent into Egypt; and it is here predicted and promised, that they should come thither again, as they did, in the fourth generation of those that descended thither; for Moses and Aaron were the fourth from Levi, or Eleazar from Kohath, and Caleb from Judah; or rather this was in the fourth age or century from the birth of Isaac, when the four hundred were up before... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 15:17

And it came to pass, when the sun went down ,.... It was going down when the deep sleep fell on Abram, and now it was quite gone or set: and it was dark ; which is not always the case as soon as the sun is set, there is a twilight for a while, and if a clear night the stars appear; but, as Aben Ezra observes, this was a dark and cloudy night; so it was a dark night, a time of great affliction and distress to the posterity of Abram, when their sun was set, or after the death of Joseph: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 15:18

In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram ,.... Which he confirmed by passing between the pieces and accepting his sacrifice: saying, unto thy seed have I given this land ; he had given it in his purpose, and he had given the promise of it, and here he renews the grant, and ratifies and confirms it, even the land of Canaan, where Abram now was, though only a sojourner in it; and which is described by its boundaries and present occupants, in this and the following verses, as is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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 should be brought during the four hundred years of their bondage in Egypt; as the next verse particularly states. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 15:12-16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 15:17-21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 15:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 15:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 15:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 15:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 15:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 15:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 15:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 15:12

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