Genesis 15
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.”
After these things the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Fear not, Abram! I am your shield and 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?”
Abram said, “Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, since I continue 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.”
Abram said, “Since you have given me no descendant, see, the steward of my house is 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.”
Then, behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but rather the one who will come 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.”
Then he brought him outside, and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So will your descendants be.”
6 Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
He believed Yahweh, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
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.”
He said to him, “I am Yahweh, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.”
8 But Abram replied, “Lord GOD, how can I know that I will possess it?”
He said, “Lord Yahweh, how will I know that I will inherit 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.”
Then he said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a dove, 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.
He brought him all these, and cut them in two, and placed each half opposite the other, but he did not divide the birds.
11 And the birds of prey descended on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.
When the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him.
Then when the sun was going down, Abram fell sound asleep and, behold, a deep and terrifying 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.
Then Yahweh said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.
14 But I will judge the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will depart with many possessions.
I will judge that nation that they will serve, and afterward they will come out with abundant possessions.
15 You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.
But you will go to your fathers in peace, and you will be buried in a good old age.
16 In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorites has not yet reached its limit.”
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.
When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between the pieces.
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—
On that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I hereby give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—
19 the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,
the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites,
20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,
the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaites,
21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”
the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”
