Genesis 15

1Some time later the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, and your reward will be very great.” 2But Abram answered, “Lord GOD, what will you give me? I am still childless, and everything I have will go to Eliezer of Damascus.” 3Abram went on, “Since you have not given me a child, someone born in my household will inherit from me.” 4Then the word of the LORD came to him: “No, he will not inherit from you. Your heir will be your own son, born of your own body.” 5He led Abram outside and said, “Look up into the sky and try counting the stars, if you can.” Then he told him, “Your descendants will be like that.” 6Abram put his trust in the LORD, and the LORD counted it to his credit as righteousness. 7He also told him, “I am the LORD. I brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to be your own.” 8But Abram said, “Lord GOD, how can I be sure that I will possess it?” 9He answered, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat and a three-year-old ram, with a turtledove and a young pigeon.” 10Abram brought them all, split each one down the middle and laid the halves facing each other, but he did not split the birds. 11When birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, Abram chased them off. 12When the sun was going down, a deep sleep came over Abram, and with it a great and terrifying darkness. 13Then the LORD said to Abram, “You must understand that your descendants will be foreigners in a land that is not theirs. They will be enslaved and oppressed for 400 years. 14But I will bring judgment on the nation that enslaves them, and afterward they will come out with great wealth. 15As for you, you will join your ancestors in peace and be buried at a ripe old age. 16Your descendants will return here in the fourth generation, because the Amorites’ wickedness has not yet run its full course.” 17After sunset, in the dark, a smoking fire pot and a blazing torch passed between the halves of the animals. 18That day the LORD made a covenant with Abram: “I am giving this land to your descendants, from the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates, 19the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, 21Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.”