Genesis 15:8-17

8He said, “O Lord 1God, 2how may I know that I will 3possess it?” 9So He said to him, “4Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10Then he 5brought all these to Him and 6cut them 7in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he 8did not cut the birds. 11The birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.

12Now when the sun was going down, 9a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, 10terror and great darkness fell upon him. 13God said to Abram, “Know for certain that 11your 12descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, 13where 14they will be enslaved and oppressed 15four hundred years. 14But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out 16with 17many possessions. 15As for you, 18you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. 16Then in 19the fourth generation they will return here, for 20the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.”

17It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which 21passed between these pieces.