Genesis 17:2

17:2 Then I will confirm my covenant 1  between me and you, and I will give you a multitude of descendants.” 2 

Genesis 17:10

17:10 This is my requirement that you and your descendants after you must keep: 3  Every male among you must be circumcised. 4 

Genesis 25:3-4

25:3 Jokshan became the father of Sheba and Dedan. 5  The descendants of Dedan were the Asshurites, Letushites, and Leummites. 25:4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were descendants 6  of Keturah.

Genesis 36:21

36:21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Horites, the descendants 7  of Seir in the land of Edom.

Genesis 46:7

46:7 He brought with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons, 8  his daughters and granddaughters – all his descendants.

1 tn Following the imperative, the cohortative indicates consequence. If Abram is blameless, then the Lord will ratify the covenant. Earlier the Lord ratified part of his promise to Abram (see Gen 15:18-21), guaranteeing him that his descendants would live in the land. But the expanded form of the promise, which includes numerous descendants and eternal possession of the land, remains to be ratified. This expanded form of the promise is in view here (see vv. 2b, 4-8). See the note at Gen 15:18 and R. B. Chisholm, “Evidence from Genesis,” A Case for Premillennialism, 35-54.

2 tn Heb “I will multiply you exceedingly, exceedingly.” The repetition is emphatic.

3 tn Heb “This is my covenant that you must keep between me and you and your descendants after you.”

4 sn For a discussion of male circumcision as the sign of the covenant in this passage see M. V. Fox, “The Sign of the Covenant: Circumcision in the Light of the Priestly ‘ot Etiologies,” RB 81 (1974): 557-96.

5 sn The names Sheba and Dedan appear in Gen 10:7 as descendants of Ham through Cush and Raamah. Since these two names are usually interpreted to be place names, one plausible suggestion is that some of Abraham’s descendants lived in those regions and took names linked with it.

6 tn Or “sons.”

7 tn Or “sons.”

8 tn The Hebrew text adds “with him” here. This is omitted in the translation because it is redundant in English style (note the same phrase earlier in the verse).