Genesis 15:17

_AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT, WHEN THE SUN WENT DOWN, AND IT WAS DARK, BEHOLD A SMOKING FURNACE, AND A BURNING LAMP THAT PASSED BETWEEN THOSE PIECES._ When the sun went down, and it was dark. This season was chosen for rendering more visible and distinct the impressive ceremony in the scene about to be described. A SMOKING FURNACE, AND A BURNING LAMP THAT PASSED BETWEEN THOSE PIECES. In explanation of this transaction, it is necessary to observe that, on occasions of great importance, when two or more parties joined in a compact, the ancient custom was to ratify the covenant or treaty by sacrifice, which was offered in the following manner:-The carcasses of the animals to be used in the sacrificial rite were divided into halves, which were arranged on two separate altars erected opposite to each other; then the parties between whom the covenant was made passed in the intermediate space,...

17._Behold, a smoking furnace_. Again a new vision was added, to confirm his faith in the oracle. At first, Abram was horror-struck with the thick darkness; now, in the midst of a smoking furnace, he sees a burning lamp. Many suppose that a sacrifice was consumed with this fire; but I rather interpret it as a symbol of future deliverance, which would well agree with the fact itself. For there are two things contrary to each other in appearance; the obscurity of smoke, and the shining of a lamp. Hence Abram knew that light would, at length, emerge out of darkness. An analogy is always to be sought for between signs, and the things signified, that there may be a mutual correspondence between them. Then, since the symbol, in itself, is but a lifeless carcass, reference ought always to be made to the word which is annexed to it. But here, by the word, liberty was promised to Abram’s seed, in...

17-21 The smoking furnace and the burning lamp, probably represented the Israelites' severe trials and joyful deliverance, with their gracious supports in the mean time. It is probable that this furnace and lamp, which passed between the pieces, burned and consumed them, and so completed the sacrifice, and testified God's acceptance of it. So it intimates that God's covenants with man are made by sacrifice, Psalms 50:5. And we may know that he accepts our sacrifices, if he kindles in our souls pious and devout affections. The bounds of the land granted are stated. Several nations, or tribes, are spoken of, that must be cast out to make room for the seed of Abram. In this chapter we perceive in Abram faith struggling against, and triumphing over, unbelief. Wonder not, believers, if you meet with seasons of darkness and distress. But it is not the will of God that you should be cast down:...

Verse Genesis 15:17. _SMOKING FURNACE AND A BURNING LAMP_] Probably the smoking furnace might be designed as an emblem of the sore afflictions of the Israelites in Egypt; but the _burning lamp_ was certainly the _symbol of the Divine presence_, which, passing between the pieces, ratified the covenant with Abram, as the following verse immediately states....

- The Faith of Abram 1. דבר _dābār_, “a word, a thing;” the word being the sign of the thing. 2. אדני _'ǎdonāy_, “Adonai, the Lord;” related: “bring down, lay down.” This is the name usually read in place of Yahweh; but when, as in the present case, יהוה _y__e__hovâh_ and אדני _'ǎdonāy_ are in apposition, אלהים _'ĕlohı̂ym_ is read instead of the former. The Jews from a feeling of reverence avoided the utterance of this sacred name except on the most solemn occasions. This is said to have arisen from a stringent interpretation of...

EXPOSITION 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. GENESIS 15:8 AND HE SAID, LORD GOD (_Adonai Jehovah_;_ vide_...

AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN THE SUN WENT DOWN,.... It was going down when the deep sleep fell on Abram, and now it was quite gone or set: AND IT WAS DARK; which is not always the case as soon as the sun is set, there is a twilight for a while, and if a clear night the stars appear; but, as Aben Ezra observes, this was a dark and cloudy night; so it was a dark night, a time of great affliction and distress to the posterity of Abram, when their sun was set, or after the death of Joseph: BEHOLD A SMOKING FURNACE; or the likeness of one, as Aben Ezra notes; for all this was represented in a visionary way to Abram, and was an emblem of the great troubles and afflictions of the children of Israel in Egypt, called the iron furnace, Deuteronomy 4:20, and may have respect to the furnaces in which they burnt the bricks they made, see...

Genesis 15:1. _After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir._ Perhaps he did not doubt the promise, but he wanted to have it explained to him. He may have wondered if it meant that one born in his house, though not his son, was to be his heir; and that, through him, the blessing would come. He takes the opportunity of making an enquiry, that he may know how to act. At the same time, there does seem to be a clashing between Abraham's question, «What wilt thou give me?» and the declaration of God, «I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.» There is a gre

CHAPTER 15 THE FOURTH COMMUNICATION AND THE COVENANT AND THE VISION _ 1. The fourth communication (Genesis 15:1)_ 2. Abram's answer (Genesis 15:2) 3. The promised seed (Genesis 15:4) 4. Abram counted righteous (Genesis 15:6) 5. Continued communication (Genesis 15:7) 6. The divided animals (Genesis 15:9) 7. The vision (Genesis 15:12)

GENESIS 12:1 TO GENESIS 25:18. THE STORY OF ABRAHAM. In this section the three main sources, J. E, P are present. Gunkel has given strong reasons for holding that J is here made up of two main sources, one connecting Abraham with Hebron, the other with Beersheba and the Negeb. The former associates Abraham with Lot. (For details, see ICC.) On the interpretation to be placed on the figures of Abraham and the patriarchs, see the Introduction. The interest, which has hitherto been diffused over the fortunes of mankind in general, is now concentrated on Abraham and his posterity, the principle of election narrowing it down to Isaac, Ishmael being left aside, and then to Jacob, Esau being excluded....