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The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917], at sacred-texts.com


Genesis Chapter 15

Genesis 15:2

gen 15:2

1) "Lord" (Hebrew, 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 (Joh 13:13) "master"; (Co2 11:2); (Co2 11:3) "husband").

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

(a) the Master's right to implicit obedience (Joh 13:13); (Mat 23:10); (Luk 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 (Exo 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 (Jos 7:8-11). See, for other names of Deity:

(See Scofield) - (Gen 1:1).

(See Scofield) - (Gen 2:4

(See Scofield) - (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) - (Sa1 1:3)

2) "Lord God" (Hebrew, 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); (Deu 3:24); (Deu 9:26); (Jos 7:7); (Jdg 6:22); (Jdg 16:28); (Sa2 7:18-20); (Sa2 7:28); (Sa2 7:29); (Kg1 2:26); (Psa 69:6); (Psa 71:5); (Isa 7:7).

See, for other names of Deity:

(See Scofield) - (Gen 1:1).

(See Scofield) - (Gen 2:4).

(See Scofield) - (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) - (Sa1 1:3)

Genesis 15:18

gen 15:18

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); (Joh 8:37); namely, the Hebrew people.

(b) In a spiritual posterity -- "look now toward heaven . . . so shall thy seed be" (Joh 8:39); (Rom 4:16-17); (Rom 9:7-8); (Gal 3:6); (Gal 3:7); (Gal 3:29) namely, 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 24:34-35)

(b) spiritually; (Gen 15:6); (Joh 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 (Deu 30:7); (Isa 14:1); (Joe 3:1-8); (Mic 5:7-9); (Hag 2:22); (Zac 14:1-3); (Mat 25:40); (Mat 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); (Joh 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); (Deu 28:62-65); (Deu 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; (Deu 30:3); (Jer 23:5-8); (Eze 37:21-25); (Luk 1:30-33); (Act 15:14-17).

See, for the other seven covenants:

ADAMIC

(See Scofield) - (Gen 3:14)

NOAHIC

(See Scofield) - (Gen 9:1)

ABRAHAMIC

(See Scofield) - (Gen 15:18)

MOSAIC

(See Scofield) - (Exo 19:25)

PALESTINIAN

(See Scofield) - (Deu 30:3)

DAVIDIC

(See Scofield) - (Sa2 7:16)

NEW

(See Scofield) - (Heb 8:8)


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