Genesis 15

1After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision. The LORD said: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield. I am your very great reward.

2Abram said: Lord GOD, what can You give me? I have no children. The man who will receive my house is Eliezer of Damascus.

3Abram also said: You have given me no children. A servant born in my house will receive everything I have.

4Then the word of the LORD came to Abram: This servant will not receive what is yours. Your own son will receive it.

5The LORD took Abram outside and said: Look up at the sky. Count the stars, if you can. Then the LORD said: That is how many descendants you will have.

6Abram believed the LORD. The LORD counted Abram's faith as doing what is right.

7The LORD said to Abram: I am the LORD. I brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans. I did this to give you this land.

8Abram said: Lord GOD, how can I know that I will receive it?

9The LORD said to Abram: Bring Me a young cow, a goat and a ram, each 3 years old. Bring Me also a dove and a young pigeon.

10Abram brought all these animals. Abram cut each animal in half. He laid the halves across from each other. But he did not cut the birds in half.

11Birds that eat dead bodies came down on the animals. Abram drove them away.

12When the sun was going down, Abram fell into a deep sleep. Then terror and thick darkness came over him.

13The LORD said to Abram: You can be sure of this. Your descendants will live in a land that is not theirs. They will serve the people there. Those people will be cruel to them for 400 years.

14But I will punish the nation they serve. Afterward your descendants will leave with great riches.

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

16In the 4th generation your descendants will come back here. The Amorites have not yet sinned enough to be punished.

17When the sun went down, it was dark. A smoking fire pot and a burning torch passed between the pieces.

18On that day the LORD made an agreement with Abram: I have given this land to your descendants. It reaches from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.

19This land includes the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites and the Kadmonites.

20It includes the land of the Hittites, the Perizzites and the Rephaim.

21It includes the land of the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.