Genesis 15:1-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 15:6

Faith and Righteousness. "And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness." Even by itself this passage claims attention. How does the idea of righteousness come into it at all? What is meant by "counting" or "imputation"? And what is the connection between belief and imputed righteousness? But it does not stand alone. I. THE WORKING Or FAITH —simple belief of what God has said, because he is true; casting all care upon him. No merit in this. Faith is the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 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, and in explication of the exact nature of that relationship which had been constituted between them by the spiritual transaction so described), I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees ( vide Genesis 11:28 ), to give thee this land to inherit (or, to possess) it. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 15:7-8

The strength and weakness of faith. I. FAITH 'S SOURCE OF STRENGTH . 1. Looking up to the Divine character—" I am the Lord." 2. Looking back to the Divine grace—"that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees." 3. Looking oat to the Divine promise—"to give thee this land to inherit it." II. FAITH 'S OCCASION OF WEAKNESS . 1. Looking forward—the fulfillment of the promise seeming far away. 2. Looking in—discovering nothing either in or about itself... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 15:8

And he said, Lord God ( Adonai Jehovah ; vide Genesis 15:2 ), whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it ? Not the language of doubt, though slight misgivings are not incompatible with faith (cf. 6:17 ; 2 Kings 20:8 ; Luke 1:34 ), and questioning with God "is rather a proof of faith than a sign of incredulity" (Calvin); but of desire for a sign in confirmation of the grant (Luther), either for the strengthening of his own faith, or for the sake of his posterity (Jarchi,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 15:9

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... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 15:10

And he took unto him all these, and divided (a word occurring only here in Genesis, and supposed by Michaelis to have been taken by Moses from the ancient document from which he transcribed this portion of his work. The word is afterwards found in So Genesis 2:17 , and Jeremiah 34:18 ) them in the midst,—μέσα ( LXX .); in equal parts (Onkelos)— and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not. So afterwards in the Mosaic legislation (Le Genesis 1:7 ).... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 15:11

And when the fowls —literally, and the bird of prey, a collective singular with the article, as in Genesis 14:13 , symbolizing the Egyptians and other adversaries of Israel, as in Ezekiel 17:3 , Ezekiel 17:7 , Ezekiel 17:12 ; Ezekiel 39:4 , Ezekiel 39:17 ; Revelation 19:17 , Revelation 19:18 (Knobel, Rosenmüller, Lunge, Keil, Kalisch), which may be regarded as probable if the divided victims represented Israel in affliction, which is doubtful ( vide supra ). It does not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 15:11

The silent worshipper. I. THE NATURE OF ABRAM 'S WORSHIP . 1. Divine in its appointment. 2. Simple in its ritual. 3. Sacrificial in its character. 4. Believing in its spirit. 5. Patient in its continuance. 6. Expectant in its attitude. II. THE INTERRUPTIONS OF ABRAM 'S WORSHIP . 1. What they were . The descent of the fowls may be regarded as emblematic of those obstructions to communion with God which arise from— 2. How they were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 15:12

And when the sun was going down. Literally, was about to go down. The vision having commenced the previous evening, an entire day has already passed, the interval being designed to typify the time between the pro-raise and its fulfillment (Kalisch). A deep sleep — tardemah (cf. Adam's sleep, Genesis 2:21 ); ἔκστασις ( LXX .); a supernatural slumber, as the darkness following was not solely due to natural causes— fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness —literally, ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 15:12-17

Abraham's watch and vision. "And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep," &c.; The great blessings promised are still afar off. As yet Abraham has no son to hand down his name to posterity. By means of a vision God strengthened his faith. Weird is the picture in this fifteenth chapter. See the solitary sheik in the desert offering his varied sacrifice, then watching until the sun goes down to drive off the vultures from the slain offerings. His arms become weary with waving and his... read more

Grupo de Marcas