Genesis 15:9 - Exposition

And he said unto him, Take me (literally, for me, i.e. for my use in sacrifice) an heifer of three years old . So rightly ( LXX ; Syriac, Samaritan, Arabic, Josephus, Bochart, Rosenmüller, Keil); not three heifers (Onkelos, Jarchi, Kimchi, et alii ). And a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old . These offerings, afterwards prescribed by the law ( Exodus 29:15 ; Numbers 15:27 ; Numbers 19:2 ; Deuteronomy 21:3 ), were three in number, and of three years each, to symbolize him who was, and is, and is to come (Wordsworth); perhaps rather to indicate-the perfection of the victim in respect of maturity (Murphy). Cf. Ganymede's offering (in 'Lucian's Dialogues') of a three years old ram for a ransom. And a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon —also prescribed by the law (Le Genesis 1:14 ; Luke 2:24 ).