Genesis 15:11

Genesis 15:11

And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.

a. NLT: Some vultures swooped down to eat the carcasses, but Abram chased them away.

b. NIV: Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.

c. YLT: and the ravenous birds come down upon the carcases, and Abram causeth them to turn back.

d. Amplified Bible: And when the birds of prey swooped down upon the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

e. Septuagint: And birds came down upon the bodies, [even] upon the divided parts of them, and Abram sat down by them. 

f. Stone Edition Chumash: Birds of prey descended upon the carcases, and Abram drove them away.

1. “And when the fowls came down upon the carcases…”

a. and when the fowls [5861 * ‘ayit] [Strong: from 5860; a hawk or other bird of prey:--bird, fowl, ravenous (bird).]

b. came down [3381 * yarad] [Strong:  a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications); -X abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, X indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.]

c. upon the carcases [6297 * peger] [Strong: from 6296; a carcase (as limp), whether of man or beast; figuratively, an idolatrous image:--carcase, corpse, dead body.]

2. “…Abram drove them away.”

a. Abram [87 * ‘Abram] [Strong: contracted from 48; high father; Abram, the original name of Abraham:--Abram.]

b. drove them away [5380 * nashab] [Strong: a primitive root; to blow; by implication, to disperse:--(cause to) blow, drive away.]

1). After Abram killed the animals and divided them, vulture arrived and attempted to do what vultures do.  They attempted to begin to devour the freshly killed animals. Although this is definitely a real event it also represents a spiritual truth. The fowls of course represent satanic attempts to destroy the sacrificial offering, and Abram kept them away.

a). Matthew 13:4 And when he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

b). Matthew 13:19 “When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart…”