Beraishis 15J – Avraham is Prepared to Conquer the Land of Canaan

Following Avraham’s victory in the battle against the 4 kings, when he rescued his nephew Lot, God told him that he will have biological children who will in inherit him. Avraham had complete faith in God’s promise. The next verse God tells Avraham, “I took you out of Ur Kasdim to give you this land, to take possession of it.” To that promise, Avraham asks, “how will I know that I will take possession of it”?

RSRH says this cannot be taken to mean a lack of faith (as some interpret the verse). It also doesn’t mean “in what merit will I inherit the land (as others explain.)

RSRH explains that the word לרשתה was never used before in previous or later promises (see commentary for sources) . The verb ירש has such a strong connotation of independent action that it sometimes means “to conquer”; in fact it is used in this sense in connection with the conquest of the Land (see Devarim 1:21, also Devarim 1:8, 2:24, 2:31 and 9:23).

What Avraham was being told was that he (actually, his descendants, as he will soon understand) will be given the land, so that he should take possession of it as a conquer.

Avraham believed this fully. (With God’s intervention he had indeed just won a major war.) What he now asked was, “How will I know that the time has come for me to conquer and possess the land? (GS- במה אדע would then be translated as “by what indicator will I know?”)

Hence, the question doesn’t show a lack of faith on Avraham’s part, rather it shows his deep belief in God’s promise and his willingness to do whatever is asked of him by God.

[God’s response follows in the next verses (9-21) in the Covenant Between the Pieces. Avraham himself will not inherit the land. The phase of increased prosperity for Avraham will move to another phase. It will only be the 4th generation who will take possession of the Land by conquest. Before that the nation will need to become formed and molded by God, enduring the difficulties that lie ahead. At the end of that period, they will be ready to become God’s people and take possession of the Land.]

Beraishis 15:8
pages 360-361