Genesis 15:1-6

The Promise of an Heir

1. After these things A vague note of time. Cf. Genesis 22:1; Genesis 22:20; Genesis 40:1; Genesis 48:1.

the word of the Lord i.e. the word of Jehovah, as in Genesis 15:4. This is a technical expression in the O.T. for a Divine revelation to a prophet. It occurs nowhere else in the Pentateuch. It suggests the prophetic character of Abram, and should be compared with Genesis 20:7 (E), where Abram is spoken of as a prophet.

in a vision Evidently, as is shewn by Genesis 15:5, the vision occurs in a dream, or in the condition described in Numbers 24:3-4; cf. Job 4:13, "in thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men."

Fear not The situation requiring this particular encouragement is not described. Abram, alone, childless, surrounded with foreigners, is not a coward, but is tempted, at times of depression, to fear that there is to be no fulfilment of the promise.

thy shield A poetical simile of frequent occurrence, e.g. Deuteronomy 33:29; Psalms 3:3; Proverbs 2:7, "He is a shield to them that walk in integrity"; Genesis 30:5, "He is a shield unto them that trust in him."

and thy exceeding great reward So the Lat. et merces tua magna nimis. But R.V. marg. thy reward shall be exceeding greatis preferable. So the LXX. That for which Abram shall be rewarded is his trust.