11 And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.
11 Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.
11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
11 Vultures swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram scared them off.
11 And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
11 Some vultures swooped down to eat the carcasses, but Abram chased them away.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 15:11
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.