10 Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half.
10 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.
10 And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half.
10 He brought all these animals to him, split them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other. But he didn't split the birds.
10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two.
10 So Abram presented all these to him and killed them. Then he cut each animal down the middle and laid the halves side by side; he did not, however, cut the birds in half.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 15:10
Commentary on Genesis 15:7-11
(Read Genesis 15:7-11)
Assurance was given to Abram of the land of Canaan for an inheritance. God never promises more than he is able to perform, as men often do. Abram did as God commanded him. He divided the beasts in the midst, according to the ceremony used in confirming covenants, Jeremiah 34:18,19. Having prepared according to God's appointment, he set himself to wait for the sign God might give him. A watch must be kept upon our spiritual sacrifices. When vain thoughts, like these fowls, come down upon our sacrifices, we must drive them away, and seek to attend on God without distraction.