“And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.”
Context:To understand Genesis 15:10 better, let’s first look at the context. This verse is part of a significant event in the life of Abram (later known as Abraham) where God makes a covenant with him. In Genesis 15, God promises Abram that he will have descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and He assures him of the land He will give to his descendants.
Symbolic Act:In verse 9, God tells Abram to bring Him a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon. In verse 10, Abram takes these animals and divides them in half, laying each piece opposite the other. This act was a cultural practice known as a covenant ceremony, which was a solemn way of making a covenant or agreement.
Significance of Division:The act of dividing the animals and placing them opposite each other was a symbolic representation of the covenant that God was making with Abram. In ancient times, making a covenant involved the parties involved walking between the divided animals, essentially saying, “May it be done to me as has been done to these animals if I break this covenant.” However, in this passage, only God passes between the divided animals (verse 17). This signifies that the covenant was initiated and upheld solely by God’s faithfulness and not dependent on Abram’s actions.
The Birds:The verse also mentions that Abram did not divide the birds. This detail may symbolize God’s provision and protection. The birds were not divided because they represented life and freedom. This act could indicate that while the covenant would require faithfulness and obedience from Abram, God would also ensure his well-being and freedom.
