Genesis Vol 3.pdf - College Press

THE PROMISE AND COVENANT 1 5 : 12-17
p, 483, concerning vv. 13-16: “Now comes the revelation
in words apart from the symbolic act, which here is made
to represent the same facts, but it can be understood only
after the revelation thus offered by word and by symbol
makes the fact involved doubly impressive; and, surely,
there was need of unusual emphasis, for this word was
largely to furnish the much needed light during the dark
ages of the period here described.” Thus Abram was to
know of a surety (v. 13), that is, in a very definite way,
of the bondage in which his progeny should suffer in the
times ahead, of their subsequent deliverance by the mighty
hand and outstretched arm of Jehovah (Deut. 5:11), and
of the divine judgment that was certain to fall upon their
oppressors.
Lange comments as follows (CDHCG, 411), and in
a somewhat different vein: “V. 12. From this reference to
the time, we may judge what was the marvelous attention
and watchfulness of Abram. The great scene of the revelation
began on the previous night; he had stood under the
starry heavens as holding a solemnity; the victims were
slain, and the pieces distributed, and then the watch over
them was held until the setting of the sun. His physical
strength sinks with it, a deep sleep overcomes him. But the
disposition for visions preserves itself in the sleep, and so
much the more, since it is even the deep, prophetic sleep.
Abram sees himself overtaken by a great horror of darkness,
which the word of Jehovah explains to him. It was
the anticipation of the terror of darkness, which, with the
Egyptian bondage, should rest upon the people. This
bondage itself was pointed out to him, under three or four
circumstances : 1. they would be oppressed and tortured
in this service; 2. it would endure four hundred years; 3.
the oppressing people should be judged; 4. they should
come out of the bondage with great substance. It is to
be distinctly observed, that the name of this people, and
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