Genesis 15 Scofield

15:2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?

1 "Lord" (Heb. Adon, Adonai)

(1) The primary meaning of Adon, Adonai, is Master, and it is applied in the Old Testament Scriptures both to Deity and to man. The latter instances are distinguished in the English version by the omission of the capital. As applied to man, the word is used of two relationships; master and husband Gen 24:9; Gen 24:10; Gen 24:12 "master" may illustrate the former; Gen 18:12 "lord," the latter). Both these relationships exist between Christ and the believer John 13:13 "master"; 2 Cor 11:2; 2 Cor 11:3 "husband").

(2) Two principles inhere in the relation of master and servant:

(a) the Master's right to implicit obedience John 13:13; Matt 23:10; Luke 6:46

(b) the servant's right to direction in service Isa 6:8–11

Clear distinction in the use of the divine names is illustrated in Ex 4:10–12. Moses feels his weakness and incompetency, and "Moses said unto the Lord Jehovah, O my Lord Adonai, I am not eloquent," etc. Since service is in question, Moses appropriately addresses Jehovah as Lord. But now power is in question, and it not the Lord (Adonai) but Jehovah (Lord) who answers (referring to creation power)--"and Jehovah said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth?.. Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth." The same distinction in Josh 7:8–11. See, for other names of Deity:

(See Scofield "Gen 1:1") See Scofield "Gen 2:4" Gen 2:7 See Scofield "Gen 14:18" See Scofield "Gen 15:2" See Scofield "Gen 17:1" See Scofield "Gen 21:33" See Scofield "1 Sam 1:3"

2 "Lord God" (Heb. Adonai Jehovah). When used distinctively, this compound name, while gathering into one the special meanings of each

(See Scofield "Gen 2:4") See Scofield "Gen 15:2"

will be found to emphasize the Adonai rather than the Jehovah character of Deity. (The following passages may suffice to illustrate this:) Gen 15:2; Gen 15:8; Deut 3:24; Deut 9:26; Josh 7:7; Judg 6:22; Judg 16:28; 2 Sam 7:18–20,; 2 Sam 7:28; 2 Sam 7:29; 1 Kgs 2:26; Ps 69:6; Ps 71:5; Isa 7:7

See, for other names of Deity:

(See Scofield "Gen 1:1") See Scofield "Gen 2:4"

Gen 2:7

(See Scofield "Gen 14:18") See Scofield "Gen 15:2" See Scofield "Gen 17:1" See Scofield "Gen 21:33" See Scofield "1 Sam 1:3"

15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

“covenant”

The Abrahamic Covenant as formed Gen 12:1–4 and confirmed; Gen 13:14–17; Gen 15:1–7; Gen 17:1–8 is in seven distinct parts:

(1) "I will make of thee a great nation." Fulfilled in a threefold way:

(a) In a natural posterity--"as the dust of the earth Gen 13:16; John 8:37, viz. the Hebrew people.

(b) In a spiritual posterity--"look now toward heaven... so shall thy seed be" John 8:39; Rom 4:16; Rom 4:17; Rom 9:7; Rom 9:8; Gal 3:6; Gal 3:7; Gal 3:29 viz. all men of faith, whether Jew or Gentile.

(c) fulfilled also through Ishmael Gen 17:18–20

(2) "I will bless thee." Fulfilled in two ways:

(a) temporally Gen 13:14; Gen 13:15; Gen 13:17; Gen 15:18; Gen 24:34; Gen 24:35 (b) spiritually; Gen 15:6; John 8:56

(3) "And make thy name great." Abraham's is one of the universal names.

(4) "And thou shalt be a blessing" Gal 3:13; Gal 3:14

(5) "I will bless them that bless thee." In fulfilment closely related to the next clause.

(6) "And curse him that curseth thee." Wonderfully fulfilled in the history of the dispersion. It has invariably fared ill with the people who have persecuted the Jew--well with those who have protected him. The future will still more remarkably prove this principle Deut 30:7; Isa 14:1,; Joel 3:1–8; Mic 5:7–9; Hag 2:22; Zech 14:1–3; Matt 25:40; Matt 25:45.

(7) "In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed." This is the great evangelic promise fulfilled in Abraham's Seed, Christ Gal 3:16; John 8:56–58.

It brings into greater definiteness the promise of the Adamic Covenant concerning the Seed of the woman Gen 3:15

NOTE.--The gift of the land is modified by prophecies of three dispossessions and restorations Gen 15:13; Gen 15:14; Gen 15:16; Jer 25:11; Jer 25:12; Deut 28:62–65; Deut 30:1–3. Two dispossessions and restorations have been accomplished. Israel is now in the third dispersion, from which she will be restored at the return of the Lord as King under the Davidic Covenant; Deut 30:3; Jer 23:5–8; Ezek 37:21–25; Luke 1:30–33; Acts 15:14–17

See, for the other seven covenants:

EDENIC (See Scofield "Gen 1:28") ADAMIC See Scofield "Gen 3:15" NOAHIC See Scofield "Gen 9:1" MOSAIC See Scofield "Ex 19:25" PALESTINIAN See Scofield "Deut 30:3" DAVIDIC See Scofield "2 Sam 7:16" NEW See Scofield "Heb 8:8"

Public domain (1917). Text from the BibleSupport.com e-Sword module.