Pemikiran Yahudi Kejadian 15:17: Kuzari, Gevurot Hashem & Guide for the Perplexed

16. The Rabbi: It was appointed to guide the world, and apportioned to the tribes of Israel from the time of the confusion of languages, as it is said: 'When the Most High divided among the nations their inheritance' (Deuteronomy 32:8). Abraham was not fit to gain the divine influence, and to enter into a mutual compact, until he had, in Palestine, made the covenant with Him 'between the pieces' (Genesis 15:17). What is now thy opinion of a select community which has merited the appellation 'people of God,' and also a special name called 'the inheritance of God,' and of seasons fixed by Him, not merely agreed upon or settled by astronomical calculations, and therefore styled "Sabbath of the land" 'feasts of the Lord.' The rules regarding purity and worship, prayers and performances, are fixed by God, and therefore called 'work of God' and 'service of the Lord.'

Also there (Bereishit Rabbah 44:21): He showed [Abraham] the splitting of the Red Sea as well, as it is written: that passed between those pieces [gezarim] (Genesis 15:17); and it says: Who split the Red Sea into sections [gezarim] (Psalms 136:13). With this, they explained something very amazing, that He showed him that great stature which the Jewish people has, such that they control the natural world, so that nature [may be] suspended for their sake. And this [occurred] at the Red Sea, when nature was suspended for their sake. And He showed this to Abraham by way of his passing through the pieces [of animals]. As those pieces indicate physicality, since all animals are physical. So when he passed through the pieces, it indicated that Abraham's covenant with the Holy One, blessed be He, was above nature; and that the supervision that He extended over Abraham was through the negation of nature. That is why he passed through the pieces, to say that Abraham's supervision by the Holy One, blessed be He, was with the negation of nature and its suspension. And that is why He showed him the splitting of the Red Sea. So contemplate these things, one by one, and you will find very, very amazing things.

Figuratively it denoted the appearance of the Light and the Divine Presence (Shechinah) which the prophets perceived in their prophetic visions, as it is said, “And behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed (‘abar) between those pieces” (Gen. 15:17). This took place in a prophetic vision, for the narrative commences, “And a deep sleep fell upon Abram.” The verb has this latter meaning in Exodus 12:12, “And I shall pass (ve-‘abarti) through the land of Egypt” (denoting “I shall reveal myself,” etc.), and in all similar phrases.