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.
16. as the dust of the earth ] For this simile cf. Gen 28:14, which is also from J. Abram’s descendants are elsewhere compared in number to the stars, Gen 15:5, Gen 22:17, Gen 26:4; and to the sand which is upon the seashore, Gen 22:17, Gen 32:12.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth,…. An hyperbolical expression denoting the great multitude of Abram’s posterity, as they were in the days of Solomon, and as they will be in the latter day; and especially as this may respect all the spiritual seed of Abram, Jews and Gentiles, and as they will be in the spiritual reign of Christ, see Ho 1:10;
so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, [then] shall thy seed be numbered; but as it is impossible to do the one, so the other is not practicable, see Nu 23:10.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
16. And I will make thy seed as the dust. Omitting those subtleties, by means of which others argue about nothing, I simply explain the words to signify, that the seed of Abram is compared to the dust, because of its immense multitude; and truly the sense of the term is to be sought for only in Moses’ own words. It was, however, necessary to be here added, that God would raise up for him a seed, of which he was hitherto destitute. And we see that God always keeps him under the restraint of his own word; and will have him dependent upon his own lips. Abram is commanded to look at the dust; but when he turns his eyes upon his own family, what similitude is there between his solitariness and the countless particles of dust? This authority the Lord therefore requires us to attribute to his own word, that it alone should be sufficient for us. It may also give occasion to ridicule, that God commands Abram to travel till he should have examined the whole land. To what purpose shall he do this, except that he may more clearly perceive himself to be a stranger; and that, being exhausted by continual and fruitless disquietude, he may despair of any stable and permanent possession? For how shall he persuade himself that he is lord of that land in which he is scarcely permitted to drink water, although he has with great labor dug the wells? But these are the exercises of faith, in order that it may perceive, in the word, those things which are far off, and which are hidden from carnal sense. For faith is the beholding of absent things, (Heb 11:1,) and it has the word as a mirror, in which it may discover the hidden grace of God. And the condition of the pious, at this days is not dissimilar: for since they are hated by all, are exposed to contempt and reproach, wander without a home, are sometimes driven hither and thither, and suffer from nakedness and poverty, it is nevertheless their duty to lay hold on the inheritance which is promised. Let us therefore walk through the world, as persons debarred from all repose, who have no other resource than the mirror of the word.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
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.
If the Reader wishes to observe, how very precious the exercise of Abram’s faith was upon this occasion, I refer him to the account of it in Stephen’s Sermon: Act 7:5 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 13:16 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.
Ver. 16. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth. ] Afterwards, Gen 15:5 God promiseth that his seed shall be as the stars of heaven. Abram’s seed, saith one, a are of two sorts: some are visible members of a church, yet have earthly hearts: others are as the stars of heaven, for spiritual light, motion, and influence.
a Moses’s Choice , by Mr Burr.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
dust. Figure of speech Paroemia. In Gen 15:5, as the “stars”, marking the two parties in Israel: the earthly and heavenly (Heb 11:9-16); partakers of “the heavenly calling” (Heb 3:1).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Gen 12:2, Gen 12:3, Gen 15:5, Gen 17:6, Gen 17:16, Gen 17:20, Gen 18:18, Gen 21:13, Gen 22:17, Gen 25:1-34, Gen 26:4, Gen 28:3, Gen 28:14, Gen 32:12, Gen 35:11, Gen 36:1-43, Gen 46:3, Exo 1:7, Exo 32:13, Num 23:10, Deu 1:10, Jdg 6:3, Jdg 6:5, 1Ki 3:8, 1Ki 4:20, 1Ch 21:5, 1Ch 27:23, 2Ch 17:14-18, Isa 48:18, Isa 48:19, Jer 33:22, Rom 4:16-18, Heb 11:12, Rev 7:9
Reciprocal: Gen 15:3 – Behold Gen 17:4 – a father Gen 26:24 – fear Gen 47:27 – grew Gen 48:4 – Behold I Num 1:46 – General Num 22:5 – they cover Deu 6:3 – that ye may 2Sa 17:11 – as the sand 2Ki 13:23 – because of his covenant 2Ch 1:9 – like the dust Psa 105:24 – And he Psa 115:14 – Lord Isa 26:15 – increased Eze 12:16 – a few men Hos 1:10 – the number Gal 3:16 – to
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 13:16. I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth That is, they shall increase incredibly, and, take them all together, shall be such a multitude as no man can number. When Moses wrote this history, these predictions had been in some measure fulfilled. But the increase of Abrams seed at that time bore no proportion to what it was in the days of Solomon, when Israel and Judah, without taking his descendants by Ishmael, Esau, and the children he had by his second wife Keturah, into the account at all, were as many as the sand which is by the sea in multitude. Now what human foresight could have perceived that this would be the case? And who that was prudent, and professed to be a messenger of God to man, and to be intrusted with the revelation of his counsel, would have ventured to predict such a thing, and thereby to risk his character as a true prophet of the Lord on the accomplishment of the prediction, if he had not known, on the most solid grounds, that God had actually made such a promise? How thankful we ought to be for the demonstration this affords us, that Moses spake by inspiration of God, and that our faith in the divine revelation made by him is built on a firm foundation!