1 After these things Davar Yahweh [Word of He sustains breathing] came to Avram [Exalted father] in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Avram [Exalted father]. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

2 Avram [Exalted father] said, “Lord Adonai , what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus [Bucket of blood]?” 3 Avram [Exalted father] said, “Behold, to me you have given no children: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.”

4 Behold, Adonai ’s word came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come out of your own body will be your heir.” 5 Adonai brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, * if you are able to count them.” He said to Avram [Exalted father], “So will your offspring be.” † 6 He believed in Adonai , who credited it to him for righteousness. ‡ (6) 7 He said to Avram [Exalted father], “I am Adonai who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.”

8 He said, “Lord Adonai , how will I know that I will inherit it?”

9 He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 He brought him all these, and divided them in the middle, and laid each half opposite the other; but he didn’t divide the birds. 11 The birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Avram [Exalted father] drove them away.

12 When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Avram [Exalted father]. Now terror and great darkness fell on him. 13 He said to Avram [Exalted father], “Know for sure that your offspring will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years. 14 I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth, § 15 but you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried at a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite [Descendants of Talkers] is not yet full.” 17 It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 In that day Adonai made a covenant ·binding contract between two or more parties· with Avram [Exalted father], saying, “I have given this land to your offspring, from the river of Egypt [Abode of slavery] to the great river, the river Euphrates [Fruitful]: 19 the Kenites [Descendants of Acquisition], the Kenezites [Descendants of Purchase], the Kadmonites [Descendants of Ancients, Chiefs], 20 the Hittites [Descendants of Trembling fear], the Perizzites [Descendants of Belonging to village], the Rephaim [Descendants of Terrible one], 21 the Amorites [Descendants of Talkers], the Canaanites [Descendants of Humbled], the Girgashites [Descendants of Who arrives from pilgrimage], and the Jebusites [Descendants of Thresher].”