What happensPermalink
God confirms his covenant with Abram—to give him the land and make him a great nation through his own son—with a formal sacrificial ritual.
Why it mattersPermalink
Abram’s “deep sleep” reminds us of when God made Eve from Adam’s rib. God, as smoke and fire like during the Exodus, symbolically shows he will take the punishment if the covenant is broken, prefiguring Jesus.
Key versePermalink
When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.