genesis 15:9

St. Baesa

"so He said to him, "bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon" (Genesis 15:9)

The Lord said to bring all these animals, why?
Why does Abraham cut them all in half (excluding the birds)?
What was their point (why were they burned in Genesis 15:17)

"And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces" (Genesis 15:17)

imikhail

The custom of making an oath or a covenant was to cut an animal in half and burn them. So, God used the existing customs to communicate His covenant with Abraham.