This is one of the most weighty chapters in Scripture, and took a while this morning to work thru.  I hope it is not too verbose, and that God is glorified and others are edified!
 
V. 1 “After these things the word of the LORD [YHWH] came..” This is the first of the 92 occurrences (KJV) of this phrase in Scripture, which would be a study in and of itself.  Here, after Abram's obedience, the LORD  speaks to him in a vision, assuring him that He is Abram's “shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” God is to be our chief source of security and ultimate object of spiritual affection; when anything else is then that is idolatry.

V. 2 “And Abram said, Lord GOD..” Here the word Adonay[136] , which seems to mean sovereign, master, owner (and is usually rendered Lord in the KJV, versus LORD[3068] for YHWH), is used for the first time in referring to God, which it almost always denotes.

Vs. 2-5 “.. what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless,.. Though the Lord has assured Abram of His protection and  blessing, and perhaps because of it, Abram addresses his anxiety about a lack of posterity. Indeed, how shall Abram's posterity be as innumerable as “thy seed as the dust of the earth” (Gn. 13:16) when Abram has no children? But God's “power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9), and rather than explain how He would perform what He has promised, God, as He often does elsewhere, reaffirmed His power and His promise to Abram but in a a more emphatic sense, “and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.” 

V.6 “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”  For “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;  And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness” (Rom 4:20-22). Behold the depth and importance of these few words, which like ”the just shall live by faith” (Hab. 2:4; Rm. 3:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38) are foundational for the “faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3)! In so establishing, Gn. 15:6, is quoted by the apostle Paul and referred to by James (2:21), with the inclusion by the latter manifesting that he is not contradicting Paul, as is often thought, for indeed Abraham was justified before God before he offered up Abraham. But while we are not justified on the merit of our works, but by faith in the Lord Jesus and His work, yet the only faith that is Biblical saving faith is that which is manifested by “faith works,” and which fruit justifies our faith, but which faith God sees before man might.

The condition and faith of Abram here is like that of any soul  that will be saved:

1. Abram had no power. Abram could not affect that which was promised, that which God has purposed he wold perform, hence Abram's inquiry to the LORD.  Likewise, though God “is not willing that any should perish” (2 Pet. 3:9), but that all come to repentance, not only is repentance and faith a gift from God (Jn. 6:44; Acts 11:7; Eph. 2:, but they are necessary because we are sinners who are absolutely destitute of any merit whereby we may escape our just punishment in the Lake of fire nor gain Eternal life in the Heavenly City (Rv. 20-22). It is God's way of salvation or the Hell – way.  We can neither satisfy justice nor holiness, but in Christ both requirements are fulfilled,  “Whom God hath set forth a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Rm. 3:25, 26). .

2. Abram had a promise given to Him by God, which manifested two things that Abram would believe:. 

A. Abram believed that God was willing to save him. It is Almighty God, not man that takes the initiative in saving rebellious man.  “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it you.” (Jn. 15:16a). So likewise we must believe that the Lord is willing to save us, and not wiling that we should perish, which is what we deserve. As the Lord assures, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (Jn. 6:37). Yet it is also written, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man” (Gn. 6:3). “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Cor. 6:1, 2).

3. Abram believed that Almighty God not only had the willingness but that He was able to perform that which He had promised. Many a sinner has doubted both, but the precious, sinless blood of Christ is able to redeem any who come to Him,  and “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Ps. 34:18). Yet this also applies to the redeemed, as the apostle Paul said, “for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (1 Tim. 1:12b).

V. 6 “I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.” So likewise the LORD who brought me out of the world, and out “an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings” (Ps. 40:2) has also blessed us with eternal life in “the land of the  living” (Ps. 27:13), and with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places (Eph. 1:3). To God be the glory!

V. 8-1-10 “...whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?..” All this revelation must be astounding to Abram, and he evidently requests formal confirmation, a sealing of the promise, which the Lord provides via the ancient ritual of sacrifice (cf. Jer. 34:18, 19). (And which has it's origin with the people of God (Gn. 4:4; 8:20), and not pagans, as is often erroneously asserted) . “Yet the transaction itself was not a real sacrifice [after the practice of the Levitical priests], since there was neither sprinkling of blood nor offering upon an altar (oblatio), and no mention is made of the pieces being burned” – K+D. The split pieces seem to signify the two parties involved in this promise, yet speculation exists as to what the three year old aspect may signify, though the use of the threefold number (or multiples thereof) is prevalent in Scripture (Is. 6:3) and may sometimes refer to the Triunity of the Godhead.

V. 11 “..the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.” These vultures likely represent the enemies of Israel, and the “false brethren like Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5), who seek to make merchandise of the people of God who keep His covenant. Eating is often used metaphorically in Scripture,  as a quick study will reveal. “Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God” Ps. 53:4).

V. 12 “..and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.”  Abram, now asleep in darkness, realizes an even greater darkness than that which is naturally occurring in present time, and which likely signifies the 400+ year time of affliction that is prophesied by God in the next verse, and which came to pass.

v. 13b “shall afflict them four hundred years.” Which they did but 30 years more, with 400 likely being a prophetic round number for the more precise 430 years (Ex. 12:40, 41; Gal. 3:17).

V. 14 “..afterward shall they come out with great substance.” The night shall have a morning, and the nation that afflicted Israel shall be punished and he shall be delivered. As the Lord Jesus said, “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Lk. 18:7,8), so it shall be.

V.15b “..thou shalt be buried in a good old age.” And the spiritual equivalent is true for believers under the New Covenant, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death” (spiritually; Jn. 8:51). Praise ye the Lord.

V. 16 “But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. Abram “was informed at the same time why neither he nor his descendants could obtain immediate possession of the promised land, viz., because the Canaanites were not yet ripe for the sentence of extermination” – K+D. This, along with other texts, reveals one reason why judgment does not fall immediately upon persecutors. Meanwhile, the Bible speaks much about the need for patience, “But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Rm. 8:25; Heb. 10:36; Rv. 14:12).

To be continued..

[[3-7-07] (Gen 15) After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. 2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. 5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. 7 And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. 8 And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it? 9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon. 10 And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not. 11 And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away. 12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. 13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; 14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. 15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. 17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. 18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: 19 The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, 20 And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, 21 And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgagotcha2es, and the Jebusites.]

[3-7-07] (Gen 15) After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. 2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. 5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. 7 And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. 8 And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it? 9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon. 10 And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not. 11 And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away. 12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. 13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; 14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. 15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. 17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. 18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: 19 The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, 20 And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, 21 And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgagotcha2es, and the Jebusites.

Vs. 1-12 Four kings against five kings, with the latter being defeated and their goos taken. The pertinence is that Abram's  nephew and his family and goods were among those taken.

V. 13 “And there came one that had escaped...” Like the men who lowered Paul down by ropes to escape the city (Acts 27:32), unnamed “soldiers” in Scripture often play a necessary part in the deliverances and victories of others by the hand of the Lord.

V. 13b “...and these were confederate with Abram.” Though these men were likely pagan, Godly Abram had a covenantal relationshiop with them as far as dwelling in the land and evidently defending it.

V. 14a he armed his trained servants,..” This is extremely notable as it reveals the first instance of the formation of an army and the use of such in war by  a man of God, and as such it reveals the part of the criteria for a “just” war. Though Lot had made an unwise and prayerless choice,  and as such his loss could be considered chastisement, yet he had lawfully settled in an established state,  and there was evidently no reason (outside of lust for possessions and prestige) for the four kings, Amraphel, Arioch,  Ellasar and Tidal, to invade and spoil the land. Yet Abram would not have interceded except for the fact that his brethren were attacked and held captive.

V. 14b “..three hundred and eighteen,...” There is no number of how large a host Abram was attacking, but considering that he was fighting four kings, it would certainly seem that Abram would have been vastly outnumbered, which is usually the case in which men of God win wars with the Lord's help.

V. 15a  “..by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah...”  Battles by men of God in Scripture   manifest the use of strategies and tend to victories, not ending in stalemates or armistices.

V. 16a  “And he brought back all the goods...” Abram's purpose was not to gain more than he had, but to simply recover that which was lost. 

V. 18  “And Melchizedek king of Salem..” Enter the most mysterious (i think) man in Scripture, who is only mentioned 2 other times (Ps. 104:4, Heb. 7:1ff), and “to whom Abraham gave a tenth part of all;  first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually” (Heb 7:2-3).

By Salem, pr Shalom, Jerusalem is meant. Melchizedek is remarkable in that he was a NOT priest  of any of the pagan Phoenician gods, but of the most high God, the true and living God of Creation and Scripture. I cannot now deal with the his absence of genealogy which Hebrews states, suffice to say that this king was a type of the Saviour, the Lord and king Jesus.  And we who believe in Him are made a “royal priesthood” (1 Pt. 2:9). For further reading, Barnes, among others available in the e-sword (.net) modules, gives a good overview of this chapter, as does K+D of  Melchizedek in particular.

V. 20 “And he gave him tithes of all.” And so sets forth the principal of giving to the Lord out of our increase, as Prv. 3:9 exhorts, “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.” And here Abram gives 10% of ALL to the Lord, as is the case in Biblical tithing, and not just money. Yet we are not to focus on a 10% tithe as our reasonable service in giving, but to the cross and to Christ, “who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?” (Ps. 116:12). 100% really belongs to the Lord, and if a preacher focuses on 10%, he may get 2%, but it he  preaches cross, he ought to get the heart of true believers, and all that the Lord directs them to give to the work of the Lord and diligent servants in it. “And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God” (2 Cor. 8:5). Indeed, the Lord said  “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees [who tithed over 10%], ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Mat 5:20).  Though everyone who is justified by faith in Christ has His imputed righteousness (Rm. 4), an evidence of such faith is a practical righteousness, of which voluntary sacrificial giving as unto the Lord, and in accordance with what we have, is a part of (2 Cor. 8, 9), versus the often hypocritical, or merely outward righteousness that characterized the Pharisees.

Vs. 23, 24  “I will not take from a thread.... Save only that which the young men have eaten,.”..”let them take their portion.” Abram again manifests his propriety and utter lack of covetousness, and care for others and putting them above care for himself, when he might have made personal gain of grace given to him. And formal Christian ministry is not to be a “business,” of making profits off the grace of God, but it is to be one of faith, in which we trust our Almighty God to provide for His work which He called us into, as we trust and obey Him in accordance with Mt. 6:33. It has been my experience (in a small faith tract and counseling ministry) that if and as we are diligent to care of the business (peoples needs etc.) coming in the “front door” and seek to be like Him, then He will bring the basic “deliveries” needed to do such in the rear door, to  keep things flowing and growing (Prv. 27:23-27). Praise ye the Lord! 

[[3-6-07] (Gen 14) And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; 2 That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar. 3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea. 4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, 6 And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness. 7 And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar. 8 And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim; 9 With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five. 10 And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain. 11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. 12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. 13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. 14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. 15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. 17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale. 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. 21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. 22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: 24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.]

[3-6-07] (Gen 14)  And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; 2 That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar. 3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea. 4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, 6 And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness. 7 And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar. 8 And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim; 9 With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five. 10 And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain. 11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. 12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. 13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. 14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. 15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. 17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale. 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. 21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. 22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: 24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.

Vs.1-4 Abram's time in Egypt (which often represents worldly strength), where he went due to famine and lack of faith and fellowship with God, has been somewhat of a chastising experience, though one in which God's care of him was yet manifest. Just because we may get some blessings when we have strayed from God's will does not mean we should presume upon His grace, which goodness should lead us to repentance. Had Abram gone to Egypt after being plainly warned not to go (cf. Jer. 42; Is. 30:2), or in search for sinful pleasures his chastisement would have been more severe. It is not mentioned that Abram worshiped the Lord in Egypt, but when he returns from the “world” back to the place where he evidently got out of God's will then Abram calls upon the name of the Lord.

Vs. 5-12 Lot evidently was wealthy as well as Abram, and the flock had grown too large for one place, and in the events that follow we see another contrast between the spirituality of two individuals. Those under “pastors” Abram and Lot had already had strife with each other due to need for pasture (the Canaanite and the Perizzite also dwelled then in the land), and this situation had all the making of strife between Abram and Lot. Had Abram contended for his “right” or preference, this would have been the case, but Abram graciously offers that Lot chose first whatever land he thought best. The Lord Jesus dealth with this in Luke 12:13-15 “And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.  And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

This situation also finds a New Testament parallel in 1 Cor. 6: “Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?” (v.7).

Vs. 10 – 13  Though we seek unity, choices must be allowed of people, and division is sometime necessary: “For there must be also heresies [sects] among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you” (1Cor. 11:19). Lot then, walking by sight and not be faith, chose what appears to be best materially, but not spiritually. “Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom.  But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.”Abram, operating on a higher plain, will end up being the one that is more truly blessed, and the rescuer of his  nephew.

V. 10b. ...as the garden of the LORD,...” Here is another confirmation of the literal account of Gen. 2.

V. 14 “And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him...”  Having surrendered up the best land to Lot, who chose the best of what what he could see, after the holy separation the Lord blesses Abram with all the that he could see land “northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward; the north of the land of Canaan was Mount Lebanon, the south of it Edom or Idumea, the east the plain and river of Jordan, the west the Mediterranean sea; and the word for "westward" here is "to the sea" (c); northward of it was Babylon, southward Egypt, eastward Arabia, and westward the Mediterranean sea” (Gill). 

V. 15b ..”for I will give it unto thee and to thy seed for ever.”  The word  for “ever” can mean till the end of an era , as in “shall be thy servant forever” (Dt. 15:17b),  but more often it means eternity, as in “from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God” (Ps. 90:2). Or “Trust982 ye in the LORD3068 forever:5704, 5703 for3588 in the LORD3050 JEHOVAH3068 is everlasting5769 strength:6697” (Isa 26:4).

That this land perpetually legally can be claimed by the physical decedents of Abraham seems confirmed by Scripture and history, but even more certain is that of all spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3) belonging to the spiritual posterity of Abraham, and of eternity in the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God” (Rev. 21:10).

V. 18 “..and built there an altar unto the LORD.” A mark of great men of God is that of humility and dependence upon God, rendering heartfelt thanksgiving and worship to God, as they overall “acknowledge the Lord in all their ways.”  The lack of this often convicts me, as even the activity for the kingdom of God (among other things) can take upon a life of it's own, but the Lord must be both  our strength and our song.  Bless the Lord o my soul.

[[3-5-07] (Gen 13) And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; 4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. 5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. 6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. 7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. 8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. 9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. 12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. 14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. 18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.]

[3-5-07] (Gen 13)  And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; 4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. 5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. 6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. 7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. 8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. 9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. 12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. 14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. 18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.

[V.1 "..Get thee out of thy country .... unto a land that I will show thee.." "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple" " (Luke 14:33). The call of God is one that requires faith and those who heed it will see the Lord faithful as they trust and and obey. The the call of Christ to discipleship necessitates forsaking all, not always literally but i every case the honest surrendering and consecrating of all of our time, talent and treasure unto the Lord; in the light of the cross upon which Christ gave His all for us, and upon which cross we are to place our “old man” and the world, that we might live unto God (Rm. 6; Gal. 6:14). Such forsaking and consecrating with be tested, and how often this living sacrifice crawls off the altar, but those who trust and obey will see the Lord work in ways unknown to others, and will receive the promises of the Lord for such obedience. V.2 "And I will make of thee a great nation.." The spiritual counterpart to this is again found in the New Testament under Christ, “Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life” (Mark 10:28-30). It is faith in the Lord Jesus that saves, but faith worketh by love, and shall be rewarded in addition to eternal life (1 Cor. 3:11-15). How succinctly is the exchange Christ call us to summed up in the words of the martyred missionary, Jim Elliott, “He is not fool who gives that which he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose.” http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/bios/b4jelliot6ra.htm V.3 "in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." And indeed the Jewish race has been a blessing – and among the foremost persecutors of Christ and His followers, – but also His most fervent followers. Yet spiritually only of those who place Abrahamic type faith in the Christ of the Biblical “gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24b; cf. Jn. 8:44; Rm. 1:28, 29) are the children of God, and thus they follow Him. V.4b "...and Lot went with him:.." Lot is somewhat of an enigma, but stands for the carnal Christian, one who showed some fruits of salvation amid his often carnal disposition and choices, and his history reveals both his merciful preservation as well as the unnecessary problems he caused for to himself and others. V.5 "and all their substance...” This stands in contrast to Christ's call to mission in the gospels, in which a literal forsaking of goods and kindred was required for a time (Mt. 4:21, 22; Mk. 10:28; 1 Cor. 9:5ff). V.6 “And the Canaanite was then in the land.” The Lord's call to follow Him is not in some sort of repristinated earth, such as will come, rather He sends us forth as “lambs among wolves” (Lk. 10:3), “with persecutions,” (the experience of which much of the contemporary church seems to think is a sign of a lack of love, and much seeks to avoid). V.7 "..and there builded he an altar unto the LORD.who appeared unto him." "Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision" (Acts 26:19). The apostle Paul's response to the revelation of God, like that of Abram's, was worship and obedience. May it be thus with us in all our ways. V.8 "and he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel." The latter means “house of God” and stands for being in the place of God's blessing and will.V.9 "Abram went down into Egypt.." Due to famine, Abram seeks sustenance Egypt, which is manifestly revealed as a type of the world, and thus begins a pattern of souls seeking refuge in the enemies campfire during times of hardship. V.12a “..when the Egyptians shall see thee..” Perhaps this is a minor incident that the apostle Paul could have referred to when he warned those who would get married, “such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you” (1 Cor. 7:28). In any case it reveals the fallibility of man, as we see the faithlessness of Abram, who would become our father in faith, in seeking to make Sarai only his sister out of fear for his own life. Vs.14-17 Notice however the protection God placed upon His elect servant and his wife. Abram must have assumed that they were lambs among wolves, and thus he must use guile, as Sarai was an attractive women, but not only was God's grace seen in Pharaoh treating Abram fairly, but God plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues, lest he lay his hand upon His anointed Sarai. Unlike today, the ruler did not reckon such to judgments as mere coincidence, but recognized it as the evident hand of Deity, and in response “sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had” (v.20b). It is a grievous thing when the lost must reprove the elect, who have not sought the Lord in a matter, and out of fear of men have chosen their own devices of deliverance. And such are some of us. Wherefore it is written, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Prov 3:5-6).]

V.1 "..Get thee out of thy country .... unto a land that I will show thee.."  "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple" " (Luke 14:33). The call of God is one that requires faith and those who heed it will see the Lord faithful as they trust and and obey. The the call of Christ to discipleship necessitates forsaking all, not always literally but i every case the honest surrendering and consecrating of all of our time, talent and treasure unto the Lord; in the light of the cross upon which Christ gave His all for us, and upon which cross we are to place our “old man” and the world, that we might live unto God (Rm. 6; Gal. 6:14). Such forsaking and consecrating with be tested, and how often this living sacrifice crawls off the altar, but those who trust and obey will see the Lord work in ways unknown to others, and will receive the promises of the Lord for such obedience.

V.2 "And I will make of thee a great nation.."  The spiritual counterpart to this is again found in the New Testament under Christ, “Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life” (Mark 10:28-30).

It is faith in the Lord Jesus that saves, but faith worketh by love, and shall be rewarded in addition to eternal life (1 Cor. 3:11-15).  How succinctly is the exchange Christ call us to summed up in the words of the martyred missionary, Jim Elliott, “He is not fool who gives that which he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose.”  http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/bios/b4jelliot6ra.htm 

V.3 "in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." And indeed the Jewish race has been a blessing – and  among the foremost persecutors of Christ and His followers, – but also His most fervent followers. Yet  spiritually only of those who place Abrahamic type faith in the Christ of the Biblical “gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24b; cf. Jn. 8:44; Rm. 1:28, 29) are the children of God, and thus they follow Him.

V.4b "...and Lot went with him:.."  Lot is somewhat of an enigma, but stands for the carnal Christian, one who showed some fruits of salvation amid his often carnal disposition and choices, and his history reveals both his merciful preservation as well as the unnecessary problems he caused for to himself and others.

V.5 "and all their substance...”  This stands in contrast to Christ's call to mission in the gospels, in which a literal forsaking of goods and kindred was required for a time (Mt. 4:21, 22; Mk. 10:28; 1 Cor. 9:5ff).

V.6 “And the Canaanite was then in the land.” The Lord's call to follow Him is not in some sort of repristinated earth, such as will come, rather He sends us forth as “lambs among wolves” (Lk. 10:3), “with persecutions,”  (the experience of which much of the contemporary church seems to think is a sign of a lack of love,  and much seeks to avoid).

V.7 "..and there builded he an altar unto the LORD.who appeared unto him."  "Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision" (Acts 26:19). The apostle Paul's response to the revelation of God, like that of  Abram's, was worship and obedience. May it be thus with us in all our ways.

V.8 "and he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel." The latter means “house of God” and stands for being in the place of God's blessing and will.

V.9 "Abram went down into Egypt.." Due to famine, Abram seeks sustenance Egypt, which is manifestly revealed as a type of the world, and thus begins a pattern of souls seeking refuge in the enemies campfire during times of hardship.

V.12a “..when the Egyptians shall see thee..” Perhaps this is a minor incident that the apostle Paul could have referred to when he warned those who would get married, “such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you” (1 Cor. 7:28). In any case it reveals the fallibility of man, as we see the faithlessness of Abram, who would become our father in faith, in seeking to make Sarai only his sister out of fear for his own life.

Vs.14-17 Notice however the protection God placed upon His elect servant and his wife. Abram must have assumed that they were lambs among wolves, and thus he must use guile, as Sarai was an attractive women, but not only was God's grace seen in Pharaoh treating Abram fairly, but God plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues, lest he lay his hand upon His anointed Sarai. Unlike today, the ruler did not reckon such to judgments as mere coincidence, but recognized it as the evident hand of Deity, and in response “sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had” (v.20b). It is a grievous thing when the lost must reprove the elect, who have not sought the Lord in a matter, and out of fear of men have chosen their own devices of deliverance. And such are some of us. Wherefore it is written, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Prov 3:5-6).

[3-3-07 (Gen 12) Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. 5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. 6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. 7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. 8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD. 9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south. 10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. 11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: 12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. 13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee. 14 And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. 15 The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. 16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels. 17 And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife. 18 And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? 19 Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. 20 And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.]

3-3-07 (Gen 12)  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. 5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. 6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. 7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. 8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD. 9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south. 10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. 11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: 12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. 13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee. 14 And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. 15 The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. 16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels. 17 And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife. 18 And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? 19 Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. 20 And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.

Vs 1a-2b “.. the whole earth was of one language..” “....they found a plain in the land of Shinar;..” The vast scope of man's ability to creatively communicate via language is another attribute that distinguishes him from animals, and God has gifted each to suit him according to their respective purposes. As language, like many other things,  is a tool, it can be used can be used for good or evil. ”Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be” (Ja. 3:10). It is the heart that determines which it shall be (Mt. 12:42), and the although the earth was purified, the heart of man remained the same, and the ability for all mankind in a small area to all speak one language became a tool for evil, more than good.  Meanwhile, the land of Shinar is that of Babylon and is evidently where modern day Iraq is: http://www.bible-history.com/babylonia/BabyloniaHistory_of_Babylonia.htm.

V.4b “let us make us a name...” Mans' desire to exalt himself, like that of the devil's, is only to his own detriment, and when God, who does not need anything, commands us to love Him above all else, it is for our own good. The tower that would reach into Heaven was likely like that of the pyramids, and which reveals the intelligence and strength primitive man possessed, which he sadly chose to use for the evil imaginations of  his heart.   

Vs.6+7 “the people is one,..” “,,let Us go down,..” The former is a composite unity, which is what i see in the latter, as in “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness,..” and “who will go for us?” (Gn. 1:26; Is. 6:.

V.8 “they left off to build the city.” They left off building due to confusion of languages, and any such worldwide communal effort by mankind would have to wait for another day, for man, aided by the universal decimal language of computers and the web, to so globally manifest the evil imaginations of his heart and exalt himself as if he were God.   

V.9 “Therefore is the name of it called Babel” (confused).

V.11a+32a “And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years [600 tot.],..”  “..the days of Terah were two hundred and five years..” The is an evident gradual decrease in antediluvian longevity, till Moses would write, “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Ps. 90:2). May we thus work the works of Him that sent us while it is day, for the night cometh, when no man can work (cf. Jn. 9:4; 1 Cor. 7:29-31). “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16). Perhaps never before has such a nation as America had so much gospel truth available – with perversions of it – with the freedom and ability  to share it worldwide, with so little response proportional to those that claim it.  May i respond and do more myself for Jesus by His grace. 

[[3-2-07] (Gen 11) And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. 10 These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood: 11 And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 12 And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah: 13 And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. 14 And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber: 15 And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. 16 And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg: 17 And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters. 18 And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu: 19 And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters. 20 And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug: 21 And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters. 22 And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor: 23 And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 24 And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah: 25 And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters. 26 And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran. 27 Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot. 28 And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. 29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. 30 But Sarai was barren; she had no child. 31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. 32 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.]

[3-2-07] (Gen 11)  And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. 10 These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood: 11 And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 12 And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah: 13 And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. 14 And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber: 15 And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. 16 And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg: 17 And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters. 18 And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu: 19 And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters. 20 And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug: 21 And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters. 22 And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor: 23 And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 24 And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah: 25 And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters. 26 And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran. 27 Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot. 28 And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. 29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. 30 But Sarai was barren; she had no child. 31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. 32 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

V.1 “Now these are the generations..” As noted before, the Lord provides us periodically in Scripture with genealogies, and here is what is called “The Table of Nations,” as part of the original “Roots.” Though many liberal “scholars” give little credence to this in keeping with their general unbelief, it does in fact provide us with the origin of nations after the Flood. In the previous chapter, God has twice reaffirmed His directive to “be fruitful and multiply,” and that of sons of Noah  “was the whole earth overspread”, and this chapter provides basic details of that, including the “liberal” pagan line of Ham (via Nimrod), whose sins possibly included one which perverts the procreation purpose, among other things. 

V.5  “..every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.” As initially all the people were “one” (Gn. 11:6), this refers to the dispersion after the confusion of tongues. I have not studied much about the peoples that the sons of Noah were progenitors of, and which involves some speculation as to their modern nations, but here is a link to Ken Ham's page concerning such.
  http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v20/i4/noah.asp  THis one has a nice genealogical tree: http://www.ldolphin.org/ntable.html

V.8 “And Cush begat Nimrod..” the renowned hunter and builder of Babylon, and from which it may be said that all the false religions began, although in Gn. 11 all seem to be guilty of unholy aspirations to self glory. Much has been written in speculation about Nimrod, which i will not seek to add to here, suffice to say that his tribe  has increased to the point where it is the dominant religion and spirit in colleges and the media (etc.) in America today.   

V.25  “..Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided..” We do not want to mis this, as it likely refers to the breaking up continents, of continental drift via catastrophic plate tectonics.  http://www.christiananswers.net/q-aig/aig-c001.html.

V. 32b “...and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.” Acts 17:26, 27 affirms and adds, “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us.”  Here we see that both the scattering of peoples “after his tongue, after their families” as well as their residency were ordained of God, yet that they were not all abandoned to perdition, but that they should “Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near” (Is. 55:6), and “now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30).

Meanwhile, as the church, which has found safety in the Ark of Refuge (Christ!) is also called to go forth and multiply, we must take heed to spiritually “cleave unto the Lord” “with purpose of heart” (Acts 11:23), that the disciples we make may grow up into Christ in all things (Eph. 4:15), rightly “holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God” (Col. 219). To God be the glory. .

[(Gen 10) Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood. 2 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. 3 And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. 5 By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations. 6 And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan. 7 And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtechah: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan. 8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah, 12 And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city. 13 And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim, 14 And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim. 15 And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth, 16 And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite, 17 And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite, 18 And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad. 19 And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha. 20 These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations. 21 Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born. 22 The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram. 23 And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash. 24 And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber. 25 And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan. 26 And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah, 27 And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah, 28 And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba, 29 And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan. 30 And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the east. 31 These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations. 32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.]

(Gen 10)  Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood. 2 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. 3 And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. 5 By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations. 6 And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan. 7 And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtechah: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan. 8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah, 12 And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city. 13 And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim, 14 And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim. 15 And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth, 16 And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite, 17 And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite, 18 And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad. 19 And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha. 20 These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations. 21 Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born. 22 The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram. 23 And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash. 24 And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber. 25 And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan. 26 And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah, 27 And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah, 28 And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba, 29 And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan. 30 And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the east. 31 These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations. 32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

This is from an unknown writer (but a Heavenly Author)

Traits of the Self-Life

The following are some of the features and manifestations of the self-life. The Spirit alone can interpret and apply this to your individual case. As you read, examine yourself as if in the immediate presence of God. Are you ever conscious of:

   1.      A secret spirit of pride, an exalted feeling, in view of your success or position; because of your good training and appearance; because of your natural gifts and abilities. An important, independent spirit. Stiffness and preciseness?
   
2.      Love of human praise; a secret fondness to be noticed; love of supremacy; drawing attention to self in conversation; a swelling out of self when you have had a free time in speaking or praying?
 
 3.      The stirrings of anger or impatience, which, worst of all, you call nervousness or holy indignation; a touchy, sensitive spirit; a disposition to resent and retaliate when reproved or contradicted; a desire to throw sharp, heated flings at another?
   
4.      Self-will; a stubborn unteachable spirit; and arguing, talkative spirit; harsh, sarcastic expressions; and unyielding, headstrong disposition; a driving, commanding spirit; a disposition to criticise and pick flaws when set aside and unnoticed; a peevish, fretful spirit; a disposition that loves to be coaxed and humoured?
 
 5.      Carnal fear; a man-fearing spirit; a shrinking from reproach and duty; reasoning around your cross; a shrinking from doing your whole duty by those of wealth or position; a fearfulness that someone will get out of the spirit and thus offend and drive some prominent person away; a compromising spirit?
 
  6.      A jealous disposition; a secret spirit of envy shut up in your heart; an unpleasant sensation in view of the great prosperity and success of another; a disposition to speak of the faults and failings, rather than the gifts and virtues of those more talented and appreciated than yourself?
 
 7.      Lustful stirrings; unholy actions; undue inclinations and familiarity towards those of the opposite sex; wandering eyes?
 
 8.      A dishonest, deceitful disposition; the evading and covering of the truth; the covering up of your real faults; the leaving of a better impression of yourself than is strictly true; false humility; exaggeration; straining the truth?
 
 9.      Unbelief; a spirit of discouragement in times of pressure and opposition; lack of quietness and confidence in God; lack of faith and trust in God; a disposition to worry and complain in the midst of pain, poverty, or at the dispensations of Divine Providence; an over-anxious feeling whether everything will come out all right?
 
 10.      Formality and deadness; lack of concern for lost souls; dryness and indifference; lack of power with God?
 
11.      Selfishness; love of ease; love of money?

These are some of the traits which generally indicate a carnal heart. By prayer and fasting hold your heart open to the searchlight of God, until you see the groundwork thereof. The Holy Spirit will enable you, by confession and faith, to bring your "self-life" to the death. Do not patch over, but go to the bottom. It will pay. Hallelujah!

"Oh to be saved from myself, dear Lord,

Oh to be lost in Thee;

Oh that it might be no more I,

But Christ that lives in me."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/TheSelf-Life.html

“And God blessed Noah..”  God is a God of blessing, and “the blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Prv. 10:22). But with blessing comes responsibility, and here it is, “ Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. 

V.2 “And the fear of you and the dread of you..” Up until now, the animosity and general universal fear of man by creature under man was not instilled Though the degree of this fear is not universal, all animals now  must be tamed if they are to be of direct use by man.

V.3 “every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you.” Up until now man and animals had been  vegetarians (Gn. 1:29, 30). 

V.4 “but flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.” Here is the 1st of the oft repeated injunction against eating blood. 

V.6 “Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed.”  Whereas before Cain escaped death, now capital punishment is ordained for those guilty of murder (which under the law, would require 2 or 3 the eye witnesses, who would suffer the same penalty if they caused death by false testimony). This is necessary to preserve life, as it recognizes that life is so valuable that the ultimate physical penalty is required as a deterrent against the unjust, unlawful destruction of it. This law is part of what is called (by dispensationalists) the dispensation of human government, in which we see implementation of new laws, and which would later be expanded upon and codified under Moses. The execution of this law requires recognition of a government with civil powers, which we will see manifested in the developing history of man in the Bible. .

V.7 “And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply..” Again, we see this command and exhortation, and the Bible is a “pro-life” Book.

V.9-11 “I establish my covenant...” with Noah and his posterity,  and with every living creature that was with him. “either shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood.” Here is one of the strongest evidences that the flood was global. Notice how important is the word “all,” for whereas devastating local floods would and have occurred, never again would there be a global flood, but the final and necessary destruction will be by fire (2 Pet. 3). And in the spiritual  aspect of punishment, in Hell, they most abundant thing on earth (water), is the most coveted. While in the Heavenly City, stones which are precious and rare shall be common (Rv. 21). And “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?. See Rm, 12:1, 2. To God be the glory). 
 
V.13 “I do set my bow in the cloud..” This rainbow was ordained by God as a sign of His perpetual covenant, between God and the earth, “between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh”.

V.18 “the sons of Noah” were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham was the father of Canaan. The past note of prologue to what is to follow.

V.20 “Noah began to be an husbandman.” Noah became a farmer man of the soil, and as such he is vocationally married to the earth, which brings forth a vineyard, which brought forth grapes, which, being squeezed brought forth juice that fermented, and of which Noah drinks and becomes drunk. This does not indicate  that Noah had any kind of habit, but rather that this was the first time Noah was in such a condition, and that it was accidental. I would even posit that perhaps a rapid fermentation of grapes occurred that was an unknown thing before the dramatic climatically changes occurred to the flood.

Vs.22-24   “...Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without...” And Noah “knew what his younger son had done unto him..” The sin, or sins of Ham was not an accidental seeing of his father's nakedness, but an evident irreverent delight in it, and the publishing of Noah's shameful state to others. But the later words that Noah “knew what his son had done unto him” may indicate that Ham committed an unnatural act as well, as seeing one's nakedness is used elsewhere as an euphemism for sexual activity; but the former sins are the most clearly evidenced were sufficient for the penalty imposed.   Ham has disobeyed the 5th commandment to “honor thy father.., and to “rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD” (Lev. 19:32), and in a specificaly disobeyed Lv. 18:7; “The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover”,  as   well as others (and which also must include our hearts). In Ham we see the first pornographer and possibly homosexual.   

v.25 “And he said, Cursed be Canaan..” God is a God who also curses, and here God as places ”the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation” (Ex. 347), so the of Canaan would be a servant of servants shall unto his brethren, with his posterity for generations being overall subject to servitude. Like in the case of  Adam, we are subject to (and subject others to) the consequences of sinful actions, as well as becoming (or making others) the beneficiaries of blessing procured by obedience to Almighty God. We are all born with a fallen nature, which God takes into account and gives grace of overcome, while on the other hand we in America (as an example) have also entered into “other men's labours” and enjoy blessings others do not, and “unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Lk. 12:48). It is my opinion, in accordance with the principal of Ezek. 18:20,  that this does not mean that the posterity of parents are actually being punished for their sins as if the children were guilty, or rewarded is if they were just,  rather we cannot escape affecting others to varying degrees by our actions, whether they be for good or evil. But “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”, and we in Christ can become overcomer's  by faith and obedience to God which “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son“ (Col. 1:13). To God be the glory! .

[(Gen 9) And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. 2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. 3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. 4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. 5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. 6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. 7 And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein. 8 And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, 9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; 10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. 11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. 12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. 17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth. 18 And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan. 19 These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread. 20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: 21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. 23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness. 24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. 25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. 26 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. 27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. 28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. 29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.]

(Gen 9)  And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. 2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. 3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. 4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. 5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. 6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. 7 And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein. 8 And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, 9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; 10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. 11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. 12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. 17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth. 18 And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan. 19 These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread. 20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: 21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. 23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness. 24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. 25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. 26 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. 27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. 28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. 29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.