Genesis 15 centers on God's covenant with Abram (later renamed Abraham).

God appeared to Abram in a vision, telling him not to fear and promising to be his shield and very great reward. Abram expressed concern about remaining childless, noting that his servant Eliezer stood to inherit his household. God reassured Abram that his heir would come from his own body. God took Abram outside and told him to count the stars, promising his descendants would be just as numerous.

Abram believed God's promise, and this faith was credited to him as righteousness. God then identified Himself as the Lord who brought Abram from Ur of the Chaldees to give him the land of Canaan.

When Abram asked for assurance regarding the promised land, God instructed him to bring specific animals for a covenant ceremony. Abram prepared the animals (except the birds) by cutting them in half, and he drove away birds of prey that attempted to eat the carcasses.

As the sun set, Abram fell into a deep sleep. God revealed that Abram's descendants would be strangers and slaves in a foreign land before returning to Canaan. After darkness fell, a smoking fire pot and flaming torch (representing God's presence) passed between the animal pieces, formally establishing the covenant.

God defined the boundaries of the land promised to Abram's descendants, from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates.