ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Genesis 15

Gen. 15:1–21 Verses 1–6 of ch. 15 focus on Abram’s concern that he is still childless; vv. 7–21 focus on his desire for assurance that the land of Canaan will belong to his descendants. God’s conditional promise in 12:2 that Abram will become a “great nation” is now guaranteed by a covenant, although the fulfillment will not take place until several centuries after Abram’s death.

Gen. 15:1 In ch. 14 Abram rejected the victory spoils that the king of Sodom offered. In response (After these things), God states that Abram’s reward shall be very great.

Gen. 15:2 the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus. This individual is not named elsewhere. The context suggests he is a trusted member of Abram’s household, possibly a slave.

Gen. 15:6 This key verse in Genesis is quoted four times in the NT (Rom. 4:3, 22; Gal. 3:6; James 2:23). Faith in God requires trusting him (see notes on John 1:12–13; Heb. 11:1), based on the truthfulness of his words. Faith in God leads to obeying his commands. Abram believed God would give him a son despite many years of childlessness. counted . . . as righteousness. Before Abram has shown himself righteous by his deeds, God sees him as righteous because of his faith.

Gen. 15:9–17 The ritual described here is possibly a type of oath. God is saying that he will become like the dead animals if he does not keep his word (see Jer. 34:18–20). Another interpretation is that the sacrificial animals symbolize Abram’s descendants and the “birds of prey” (Gen. 15:11) signify their enemies (unclean nations).

Gen. 15:13–16 Four hundred years appears to be a round figure. and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. The Lord’s promise to Abram was fulfilled 600 to 800 years later at the time of the exodus. for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete. The Amorites are one of the main groups living in Canaan (vv. 19–21) and are descendants of Ham (see notes on ch. 10). God’s comment implies that the Amorites’ land will be taken as an act of punishment for their sin. See note on Josh. 6:17–18.

Gen. 15:17 The smoking fire pot and flaming torch symbolize God’s presence, which is often associated with fire (e.g., Ex. 13:21–22).

Gen. 15:18–21 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram. This covenant differs from the one described in ch. 17. (On covenants, see note on 9:9–11.) God unconditionally pledges that Abram’s offspring will possess this land, linking this covenant with the earlier conditional promise that Abram would become a great nation (12:2). from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates. The designation “river of Egypt” is unclear. It could refer to the Wadi el Arish (midway between Israel and the Nile). Or, “river” could refer to the eastern branch of the Nile. This promise was probably fulfilled for a time in the reign of Solomon (see 1 Kings 4:21).