absolutely perfect sacrifice could avail for ratifying of God's covenant with man), and, after being slain, their parts were to be divided and placed opposite to each other, so that a sufficient space should be left for a man to pass between them. Whether this way of making covenants had obtained before, or whether it was first suggested by God on this occasion, we cannot tell : but we have notices of it in the heathen world, both among the Greeks and Romans ; and it was certainly practised by the Jews alsoh. But, whatever was its origin, God appointed it now for the purpose of satisfying Abram's mind. The sacri- fice being prepared, God accompanied it,
1. With significant emblems —
[God designed to give Abram a just conception of the manner in which the desired object should be accomplished ; and by various emblems shewed him that it should be against much opposition — after many troubles — and long delays.
The opposition was signified to Abram by " the fowls that came down upon the carcases," and that were with difficulty driven away. It is no uncommon thing for the enemies of our salvation, whether men or devils, to be represented by this figure'. And it was indeed verified by the efforts which the Egyptians made to detain them in bondage, and the con- federacies which the nations of Canaan formed to obstruct their entrance into the land, or to dispossess them of it when they were there.
" The horror of great darkness that fell upon Abram when he was in a deep sleep k," denoted the heavy troubles that his posterity should endure in Egypt ; such troubles as made them groan for anguish of spirit, and made " the soul of God himself to be grieved for the misery of Israel1." Perhaps too the judgments inflicted on them through the various oppressions of the Midianites and Philistines, the Assyrians and Chal- deans, might be represented to his mind.
The long interval of time that passed between the promise and the ratification of it, even from the earliest dawn, while the stars were yet shining bright, to the return of darkness after the setting of the sun — all this time had Abram to wait : and though part of it would be consumed in the preparing of the sacrifices, yet a considerable part was occupied in his
h Jer. xxxiv. 18, 19.
1 ver. 11. with Jer. xxxiv. 20. and Matt. xiii. 19.
* ver. 12. l Judg. x. 16.