Was Genesis 15 spoken to Abram before or after his name was changed to Abraham?
Genesis 15:13 was spoken to Abram before his name was changed to Abraham. The text explicitly addresses him as Abram at that point. God told Abram his seed would be strangers in a land not theirs, serve its people, and be afflicted 400 years, while Exodus later records the 430-year sojourning.
Les explains that in Genesis 15:13 God is speaking to Abram, and this is before his name was changed. He notes God says, “Know of a surety,” so Abram can rest on it. The seed spoken of is plural, referring to the whole nation of Israel, who would be strangers in a land not theirs—Egypt—and would serve them in slavery and be afflicted 400 years. Les points out that another place says 430 years while here it says 400. Then Exodus 12:40 confirms the sojourning of the children of Israel in Egypt was 430 years, and at the end of those 430 years, the selfsame day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from Egypt, the night of Passover.
And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
More Questions
When was Genesis 15:13 spoken to Abram?
Genesis 15:13 was spoken to Abram before his name was changed to Abraham.
What land is Genesis 15:13 talking about when it says Abram's seed would be strangers in a land not theirs?
The 'land that is not theirs' where Abram's descendants would be strangers, as promised in Genesis 15:13, is Egypt.
Where did Abram's descendants become strangers according to Genesis 15:13?
The land where Abram's seed would be strangers was Egypt, not the promised land.