12 And when the sun H8121 was going down, H935 a deep sleep H8639 fell H5307 upon Abram; H87 and, lo, an horror H367 of great H1419 darkness H2825 fell H5307 upon him.
Therefore I was left alone, H7604 and saw H7200 this great H1419 vision, H4759 and there remained H7604 no strength H3581 in me: for my comeliness H1935 was turned H2015 in me into corruption, H4889 and I retained H6113 no strength. H3581 Yet heard H8085 I the voice H6963 of his words: H1697 and when I heard H8085 the voice H6963 of his words, H1697 then was I in a deep sleep H7290 on my face, H6440 and my face H6440 toward the ground. H776
In thoughts H5587 from the visions H2384 of the night, H3915 when deep sleep H8639 falleth H5307 on men, H582 Fear H6343 came H7122 upon me, and trembling, H7461 which made all H7230 my bones H6106 to shake. H6342
But know H3045 that the LORD H3068 hath set apart H6395 him that is godly H2623 for himself: the LORD H3068 will hear H8085 when I call H7121 unto him. Stand in awe, H7264 and sin H2398 not: commune H559 with your own heart H3824 upon your bed, H4904 and be still. H1826 Selah. H5542 Offer H2076 the sacrifices H2077 of righteousness, H6664 and put your trust H982 in the LORD. H3068
And G1161 Saul G4569 arose G1453 from G575 the earth; G1093 and G1161 when his G846 eyes G3788 were opened, G455 he saw G991 no man: G3762 but G1161 they led G5496 him G846 by the hand, G5496 and brought G1521 him into G1519 Damascus. G1154 And G2532 he was G2258 three G5140 days G2250 without G3361 sight, G991 and G2532 neither G3756 did eat G5315 nor G3761 drink. G4095
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 15
Commentary on Genesis 15 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 15
Ge 15:1-21. Divine Encouragement.
1. After these things—the conquest of the invading kings.
the word of the Lord—a phrase used, when connected with a vision, to denote a prophetic message.
Fear not, Abram—When the excitement of the enterprise was over, he had become a prey to despondency and terror at the probable revenge that might be meditated against him. To dispel his fear, he was favored with this gracious announcement. Having such a promise, how well did it become him (and all God's people who have the same promise) to dismiss fears, and cast all burdens on the Lord (Ps 27:3).
2. Lord God, what wilt thou give?—To his mind the declaration, "I am thy exceeding great reward" [Ge 15:1], had but one meaning, or was viewed but in one particular light, as bearing on the fulfilment of the promise, and he was still experiencing the sickness of hope deferred.
3. Eliezer of Damascus … one born in my house is mine heir—According to the usage of nomadic tribes, his chief confidential servant, would be heir to his possessions and honors. But this man could have become his son only by adoption; and how sadly would that have come short of the parental hopes he had been encouraged to entertain! His language betrayed a latent spirit of fretfulness or perhaps a temporary failure in the very virtue for which he is so renowned—and absolute submission to God's time, as well as way, of accomplishing His promise.
4. This shall not be thine heir—To the first part of his address no reply was given; but having renewed it in a spirit of more becoming submission, "whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it" [Ge 15:8], he was delighted by a most explicit promise of Canaan, which was immediately confirmed by a remarkable ceremony.
9-21. Take me an heifer, &c.—On occasions of great importance, when two or more parties join in a compact, they either observe precisely the same rites as Abram did, or, where they do not, they invoke the lamp as their witness. According to these ideas, which have been from time immemorial engraven on the minds of Eastern people, the Lord Himself condescended to enter into covenant with Abram. The patriarch did not pass between the sacrifice and the reason was that in this transaction he was bound to nothing. He asked a sign, and God was pleased to give him a sign, by which, according to Eastern ideas, He bound Himself. In like manner God has entered into covenant with us; and in the glory of the only-begotten Son, who passed through between God and us, all who believe have, like Abram, a sign or pledge in the gift of the Spirit, whereby they may know that they shall inherit the heavenly Canaan.