Bris Bein Habsarim Covenant Between the Parts

WHEN AND WHERE DID IT OCCUR?

HaShem foretold, “Your children will be strangers in a strange land for 400 years”. Rashi explains this period began from the birth of Yitzchak.

EventYears from CreationAge of AvrohomYears to ExodusAvram leaves Charan - Chapter202375425Famine and Avram goes to EgyptLot goes to Sodom - ChapterAvram fights 4 Kings after they defeat 5 Kings at the end of 14 years - Chapter 14Chapter 15 “after these things” – G-d’s Promises & the Covenant Between the Parts??? ??? ???Birth of Yishmael203486414Avram’s Bris & Promise of a son one year later204799401Birth of Yitzchak2048100400Death of Avrohom2123175325Yaacov & Tribes go down to Egypt2238210Last of the 12 sons dies and slavery begins2332116Birth of Moshe236880Exodus24480

Problem #1 Age of Avrohom

In the order of the Parsha, the Covenant occurs after Avram leaves Charan (at age of 75); famine occurs; Avram goes & returns from Egypt; Lot goes to Sodom; the war of the 4 & 5 kings; Avram’s victory over the 4 kings.

However: In Chumash Bereshis, Parshas Lech Lecha, 15:13 it says that the children of Avram would be strangers in a strange land for 400 years. Rashi explains this period began with the birth of Yitzchak. In Chumash Shmos, Parshas Bo, 12:40 it says that the Bnei Yisrael are being redeemed after 430 years in exile. Rashi explains this count refers back to the time of the promise, the Bris Bein Habsarim. Avram was 100 years old when Yitzchak was born. Thus, the Bris Bein Habsarim seems to have occurred 30 years before the birth of Yitzchak, when Avram was 70 years old.

Problem #2 Chapter 15

1. Avram asks about children in verses 2-4. G-d promises children and he believes in HaShem and it is considered Tzedakah. But in verse 8, Avram again asks about children.
2. In verse 5, G-d takes Avram outside into night to see stars. Yet in verse 12, the sun now sets.
3. In verse 1, G-d appears in Avram in a dream. However, in verse 12, G-d causes a sleep to fall on Avram.

Problem #3 Adon

On 15:8, Avram calls G-d “Adon”. And the Gemara Berachos (7b) says until this time, no one has called The Holy One, Blessed Be He by the name “Adon”. Yet in verse 15:2, Avram used the term my “Adon”.

Possible Solution: Chapter 15, verses 7-21 and the Covenant Between the Parts actually occurred 5 years prior to the Command of “Lech Lecha” (when Avram was 70 years old and was “transported” to Eretz Yisrael for the Covenant), and is recorded out of historical order. (Chazal placed an indication by starting “Shishi” at verse 15:7 to mark the 2 different sections)