Note on Genesis 15:9-18. This Is Appendix From The Companion Bible. Genesis 15:9    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."    9. Take me = take for me : that is to say, an offering for me, heifer. See Appendix 15. Genesis 15:10    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.    10. these. Five, the No. of Grace, because Covenant was unconditional. See Appendix 10.    divided. So Covenants were made (Jeremiah 34:18 - 20).    midst, that is to say, in half. Genesis 15:11    11.  And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away. Genesis 15:12    12.  And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon °Abram ; and. °lo, and horror of great darkness fell upon him.    12. Abram. Put to sleep so that he should have no part in it, and that the Covenant should be unconditional, in which "God was the one" and only contracting party (Galatians 3:20). Compare verse 17. Contrast "both", chapter 21:27.    lo. Figure of Speech, Asterismos. See Appendix 6. Genesis 15:13    13.  And He said unto Abram, °Know of a surety 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 ;    13. Know of a surety. Hebrew knowing thou shalt know. Figure of Speech, Polyptoton. See Appendix 6, "could we certainly know"; 43:20.    thy seed, that is to say , Isaac. "Thy seed" is there for "Christ". The difference of the 30 years comes in here : 430 to the Exodus (12:40) from Genesis 12:4, when Abraham was 75: 25 thence to Isaac's birth : and now, 5 to his recognition as the seed = 30 years. The 400 years date from Isaac's birth (Acts 7:6). The 430 from the "promise" or Covenant here made (compare Galatians 3:17), and include the whole "sojourning" (Exodus 12:40).    and shall serve, etc. Figure of Speech, Epitrechon. See Appendix 6.    This is shown by the Structure (Introversion).    a | Thy seed shall be a stranger, etc.      b | and shall serve them.      b | and they shall afflict them    a | four hundred years.    In a and a we have the whole sojourning and duration. In b and b the servitude in Egypt (215 years). Genesis 15:14    14.  And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I °judge : and afterward shall they come out with great substance.    14. judge. Put by Metonymy (of Cause), Appendix 6, for punish. Genesis 15:15    15.  And thou shalt °go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.    go to thy fathers = die and be buried. Abram's fathers were idolaters. Joshua 24:2. Figure of Speech Euphemism (Appendix 6). Genesis 15:16    16.  But in the °fourth generation they shall come hither again : for the °iniquity of the Amorites is °not yet full."    fourth = Levi, Kohath, Amram, Moses ; (or Levi), Jochebed (born in Eygpt).    iniquity. Hebrew ávon. See Appendix 44. iii.    not yet. Another mark of the corruption of the Canaanite nations through the Nephilim and Rephaim. Genesis 15:17    17.  Ans 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.    behold. Figure of Speech Asterismos. See Appendix 6.    furnace. Symbolic of the affliction of Israel (Deuteronomy 4:20. 1 Kings 8:51. Isaiah 31:9. Ezekiel 22:18 - 22. Jeremiah 11:4).    lamp. Symbolic of Israel's deliverance (1 Kings 11:36; 15:4. Isaiah 62:1. 2 Samuel 21:17). Genesis 15:18    18.  In the same day °the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed °have I given °this land, from the river of Eygpt unto the great river, the river Euphrates :    the Lord. Not Abram (Galatians 3:17). Abram put to sleep so that he should have no part in it and that the Covenant should be unconditional, in which "God was the one" and only contracting party (Galatians 3:20). Compare verse 17. Contrast "both", chapter 21:27.    have. Before this it was "I will". From now it is "I have".    this land. Never yet possessed with these boundaries. Back to Appendix 159