Genesis 15:1-17

Genesis 15:1-17

[1] After  these things  of the LORD  came  unto Abram  in a vision,  saying,  Fear  not, Abram:  I am thy shield,  and thy exceeding  great  reward.  [2] 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?  [3] And Abram  said,  Behold, to me thou hast given  no  seed:  and, lo, one born  in my house  is mine heir.  [4] And, behold, the word  of the LORD  came unto him, saying,  This shall not be thine heir;  but he that shall come forth  out of thine own bowels  shall be thine heir.  [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. [6] And he believed  in the LORD;  and he counted  it to him for righteousness.  [7] And he said  unto him, I am the LORD  that brought thee out  of Ur  of the Chaldees,  to give  thee this land  to inherit  it. [8] And he said,  Lord  whereby  shall I know  that I shall inherit it?  [9] And he said  unto him, Take  me an heifer  of three years old,  and a she goat  of three years old,  and a ram  of three years old,  and a turtledove,  and a young pigeon.  [10] And he took  unto him all these, and divided  them in the midst,  and laid  each  piece  one against  another:  but the birds  divided  he not. [11] And when the fowls  came down  upon the carcases,  Abram  drove them away.  [12] And when the sun  was going down,  a deep sleep  fell  upon Abram;  and, lo, an horror  of great  darkness  fell  [13] And he said  unto Abram,  Know  that thy seed  shall be a stranger  in a land  that is not theirs, and shall serve  them; and they shall afflict  them four  hundred  years;  [14] And also that nation,  whom they shall serve,  will I judge:  and afterward  shall they come out  with great  substance.  [15] And thou shalt go  to thy fathers  in peace;  thou shalt be buried  in a good  old age.  [16] But in the fourth  generation  they shall come hither  again:  for the iniquity  of the Amorites  is not yet  full.  [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.