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The First Book of Moses: Genesis

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- Chapter 15 -

(Romans 4:1–12; Hebrews 11:8–19)
1
After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
2
But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
3
Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
4
Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.”
5
And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”(a)
6
Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.(b)
7
The LORD also told him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”

God Confirms His Promise

(Numbers 34:1–15; Romans 4:13–25)
8
But Abram replied, “Lord GOD, how can I know that I will possess it?”
9
And the LORD said to him, “Bring Me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a turtledove and a young pigeon.”
10
So Abram brought all these to Him, split each of them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other. The birds, however, he did not cut in half.
11
And the birds of prey descended on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.
12
As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him.
13
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
14
But I will judge the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will depart with many possessions.(c)
15
You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.
16
In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
17
When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the halves of the carcasses.
18
On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates—
19
the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,
20
Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,
21
Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”

Footnotes

(a)15:5 Cited in Romans 4:18
(b)15:6 Cited in Romans 4:3, Romans 4:22, Galatians 3:6, and James 2:23
(c)15:14 Cited in Acts 7:6–7
(Romans 4:1–12; Hebrews 11:8–19)
1
After these things the LORD’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
2
Abram said, “Lord (a) GOD, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”
3
Abram said, “Behold, you have given no children to me: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.”
4
Behold, the LORD’s word came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come out of your own body will be your heir.”
5
The LORD brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So your offspring will be.”
6
He believed in the LORD, who credited it to him for righteousness.
7
He said to Abram, “I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.”

God Confirms His Promise

(Numbers 34:1–15; Romans 4:13–25)
8
He said, “Lord GOD, how will I know that I will inherit it?”
9
He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
10
He brought him all these, and divided them in the middle, and laid each half opposite the other; but he didn’t divide the birds.
11
The birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.
12
When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him.
13
He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your offspring will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years.
14
I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth;
15
but you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried at a good old age.
16
In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.”
17
It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.
18
In that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I have given this land to your offspring, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates:
19
the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites,
20
the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,
21
the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

Footnotes

(a)15:2 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai”.
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