Genesis 15:9-13

9The Lord said to Abram, ‘Bring a young cow, a goat and a male sheep to offer them to me. Each animal must be three years old. Also bring a dove and a young pigeon.’

10Abram brought the three animals and the two birds to offer to God. Abram cut each animal in two pieces. He put the halves opposite each other. But he did not cut the birds in two pieces.

11Some birds flew down to eat the animals' dead bodies. But Abram sent them away.

12When the sun was going down, Abram started to sleep. Suddenly he became very afraid because it was dark all around him.

13Then the Lord said to Abram, ‘Be sure of this: Your descendants will live in a foreign country. They will be strangers there. People will do bad things to them and they will become slaves. This will continue for 400 years.