Genesis 15

1 After these things Davar Yahweh [Word of He sustains breathing] came to Avram [Exalted father] in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Avram [Exalted father]. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

After these things, came the word of Yahweh unto Abram, in a vision saying, —Do not fear Abram, I am a shield to thee, thine exceeding great reward.

2 Avram [Exalted father] said, “Lord Adonai, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus [Bucket of blood]?”

And Abram said My Lord Yahweh, what canst thou give me, when, I, am going on childless, —and the heir of my house, is Eliezer, of Damascus,

3 Avram [Exalted father] said, “Behold, to me you have given no children: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.”

And Abram said—Lo, to me, hast thou not given seed, —And lo! a son of my household, is mine heir!

4 Behold, Adonai’s word came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come out of your own body will be your heir.”

And lo! the word of Yahweh [came] unto him, saying, This one, shall not be thine heir: But one who cometh forth of thy body—he shall be thine heir.

5 Adonai brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Avram [Exalted father], “So will your offspring be.”

And he brought him forth abroad and said—Look steadfastly. I pray thee towards the heavens, and number the stars, if thou be able to number, them, And he said to him, Thus, shall be thy seed.

6 He believed in Adonai, who credited it to him for righteousness.

And he had faith in Yahweh, —so he reckoned it to him as righteousness.

7 He said to Avram [Exalted father], “I am Adonai who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.”

And he said unto him, —I, am Yahweh, who brought thee forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.

8 He said, “Lord Adonai, how will I know that I will inherit it?”

And he said, My Lord Yahweh, whereby, can I know that I shall inherit it?

9 He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”

And he said unto him, Take for me a heifer three years old, and a she-goat three years old, and a ram three years old, and a turtle-dove and a young pigeon.

10 He brought him all these, and divided them in the middle, and laid each half opposite the other; but he didn’t divide the birds.

So he took for him all these, and divided them, in the midst, and placed each piece over against its fellow, but the birds, divided he not.

11 The birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Avram [Exalted father] drove them away.

Then came down the birds of prey upon the carcass, and Abram drove them away.

12 When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Avram [Exalted father]. Now terror and great darkness fell on him.

And it came to pass when, the sun, was about to go in, and, a deep sleep, had fallen upon Abram, lo! a terror a great darkness, was falling upon him.

13 He said to Avram [Exalted father], “Know for sure that your offspring will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years.

And he said to Abram—Thou must surely know, that, sojourners, will thy seed become in a land not theirs, and shall serve them and they will humble them, four hundred years;

14 I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth,

moreover also, the nation whom they will serve, I, am going to judge, and after that, shall they come forth with great substance.

15 but you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried at a good old age.

But, thou, shalt go in unto thy fathers in peace, thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

16 In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite [Descendants of Talkers] is not yet full.”

And, in the fourth generation, shall they return hither, —for not complete, is the iniquity of the Amorites, as yet,

17 It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.

So it came to pass when, the sun, had gone in, and, a thick darkness, had come on, that lo there was a smoking hearth and torch of fire, which passed through between these pieces.

18 In that day Adonai made a covenant ·binding contract between two or more parties· with Avram [Exalted father], saying, “I have given this land to your offspring, from the river of Egypt [Abode of slavery] to the great river, the river Euphrates [Fruitful]:

In that day, did Yahweh solemnise with Abram a covenant, saying, —To thy seed, have I given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river—the river Euphrates:

19 the Kenites [Descendants of Acquisition], the Kenezites [Descendants of Purchase], the Kadmonites [Descendants of Ancients, Chiefs],

the Kenite, and the Kenizzite, and the Kadmonite;

20 the Hittites [Descendants of Trembling fear], the Perizzites [Descendants of Belonging to village], the Rephaim [Descendants of Terrible one],

and the Hittite and the Perizzite, and the Rephaim;

21 the Amorites [Descendants of Talkers], the Canaanites [Descendants of Humbled], the Girgashites [Descendants of Who arrives from pilgrimage], and the Jebusites [Descendants of Thresher].”

and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Girgashite, and the Jebusite.