Genesis 15:5

_AND HE BROUGHT HIM FORTH ABROAD, AND SAID, LOOK NOW TOWARD HEAVEN, AND TELL THE STARS, IF THOU BE ABLE TO NUMBER THEM: AND HE SAID UNTO HIM, SO SHALL THY SEED BE._ And he brought him forth abroad. It appears, from several instances, that things are related in Scripture as actually done which yet were only transacted in a vision; and this is one of them, where the text says that God brought Abram forth abroad, and bade him number the stars; while it is evident from Genesis 15:12 that the sun had not gone down (cf. Jeremiah 13:4; Jeremiah 25:17). In the transparent nocturnal sky with which Abram was familiar at Hebron, the firmament would be seen studded in every part with innumerable radiant gems;

2-6 Though we must never complain of God, yet we have leave to complain to him; and to state all our grievances. It is ease to a burdened spirit, to open its case to a faithful and compassionate friend. Abram's complaint is, that he had no child; that he was never likely to have any; that the want of a son was so great a trouble to him, that it took away all his comfort. If we suppose that Abram looked no further than outward comfort, this complaint was to be blamed. But if we suppose that Abram herein had reference to the promised Seed, his desire was very commendable. Till we have evidence of our interest in Christ, we should not rest satisfied; what will all avail me, if I go Christless? If we continue instant in prayer, yet pray with humble submission to the Divine will, we shall not seek in vain. God gave Abram an express promise of a son. Christians may believe in God with respect...

Verse Genesis 15:5. _LOOK NOW TOWARD HEAVEN_] It appears that this whole transaction took place in the _evening_; Genesis 13:14. Abram had either two visions, that recorded in Genesis 15:1, and that in Genesis 15:12, c. or what is mentioned in the beginning of this chapter is a part of the occurrences which took place after the sacrifice mentioned Genesis 15:9, c.: but it is more likely that there was a vision of that kind already described, and afterwards a _second_, in which he received the revelation mentioned...

- 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 15:1 AFTER THESE THINGS—the events just recorded—THE WORD OF THE LORD_—Debar Jehovah_;_ _the first occurrence of this remarkable phrase, afterwards so common in the Hebrew Scriptures (Exodus 9:20; Numbers 3:16; Deu 34:5; 1 Samuel 3:1; Psalms 33:6_, et passim_)._ _That this was a personal designation of the pre-incarnate Loges, if not susceptible of complete demonstration, yet receives not a little sanction from the language employed throughout this n

AND HE BROUGHT HIM FORTH ABROAD,.... Out of his tent into the open air, which was done through his call, and at his direction; or by an impulse upon his mind; or this might not be real and local, only vision: AND SAID, LOOK NOW TOWARDS HEAVEN; either with his bodily eyes, or with the eyes of his mind: AND TELL THE STARS, IF THOU BE ABLE TO NUMBER THEM; this looks as if it were in a vision that this was said to him, and what follows done in the day, since it was in the daytime, before the sun was set, Genesis 15:12, when the stars could not be seen; and therefore were represented to his mind, and he was directed to consider them in it, whether they could be numbered by him or not: but this might be in the preceding night, or early in the morning, before the sun arose, that Abram was directed to go out of his tent, and view the heavens, and

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)

From some unnamed cause Abraham is afraid; Yahweh encourages him in a vision with the assurance of Divine protection; some deed is deemed worthy of the promise, thy reward shall be exceeding great (_mg.)._ But what reward, he answers, O Lord Yahweh, wilt thou give that can be of value to me? since I go hence (_mg.)_ childless, and my heir is a home-born slave. To die without a child was to have one's name rooted out on earth. In Sheol there was continuance of bare existence, but no life in any real sense of the term (Isaiah 14:9 *); hence the ancient Hebrew felt that if he did not live in his posterity death meant the end of life. Yahweh tells him that a son of his own begetting shall be his heir, and, bringing him out of his tent to look at the starry sky, affirms that his seed shall be similarly innumerable. The faith of Abraham rises to meet the promise, and this faith is counted to h...

GOD'S COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM.-- Genesis 15:5-18. GOLDEN TEXT. --_ Fear not, Abram,. am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward._ -- Genesis 15:1. TIME. --About B. C. 1913. PLACE. --By the oaks of Mamre in Hebron. HELPFUL READINGS. -- Genesis 12:1-7; Genesis 13:14-17; Genesis 17:1-14; Galatians 3:6-18; James 2:20-24