Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 9. Take me a heifer] hlg[ eglah, a she-calf; a she- goat, z[ ez, a goat, male or female, but distinguished here by the feminine adjective; tlm meshullesheth, a three- yearling; a ram, lya ayil; a turtle-dove, rt tor, from which come turtur and turtle; young pigeon, lzwg gozal, a word signifying the young of pigeons and eagles. See Deut. xxxii. 11. It is worthy of remark, that every animal allowed or commanded to be sacrificed under the Mosaic law is to be found in this list. And is it not a proof that God was now giving to Abram an epitome of that law and its sacrifices which he intended more fully to reveal to Moses; the essence of which consisted in its sacrifices, which typified the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world? On the several animals which God ordered Abram to take, Jarchi remarks: ""The idolatrous nations are compared in the Scriptures to bulls, rams, and goats; for it is written, Psa. xxii. 12: Many bulls have compassed me about. Dan. viii. 20: The ram which thou hast seen is the king of Persia. The rough goat is the king of Greece. Daniel viii. 21. But the Israelites are compared to doves, &c.; So ii. 14: O my dove, that art in the cleft of the rock. The division of the above carcasses denotes the division and extermination of the idolatrous nations; but the birds not being divided, shows that the Israelites are to abide for ever."" See Jarchi on the place.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 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, Jer 34:18, 19 Having prepared according to God's appointment, he set himself to wai for the sign God might give him. A watch must be kept upon ou spiritual sacrifices. When vain thoughts, like these fowls, come dow upon our sacrifices, we must drive them away, and seek to attend on God without distraction.
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 אליו413 קחה3947 לי עגלה5697 משׁלשׁת8027 ועז5795 משׁלשׁת8027 ואיל352 משׁלשׁ8027 ותר8449 וגוזל׃1469
