What does it even mean?
The verse appears in the context of the brit bein ha-betarim, the “covenant between the pieces.” God makes a covenant with Abraham, promising him descendants as numerous as the stars. As part of this covenantal act, Abraham prepares a sacrifice. He cuts animals in half and lays the pieces opposite each other.
And then…the birds arrive.
Now, the plain meaning of the text is already pretty powerful. It evokes a sense of vulnerability. Abraham is in this sacred moment, setting up this important agreement with God, and these scavengers come swooping in, threatening to defile the offering.
But the rabbis, masters of interpretation that they were, saw something much deeper. They asked: What is the meaning of, "And the birds descended on the bodies which were divided?" (Genesis 15:11). They wouldn't let that image rest.
Philo of Alexandria, a Jewish philosopher living in Egypt around the time of Jesus, offers a fascinating interpretation in his writings. He saw these birds as representing the "onslaught of evils" against virtue. (Philo, Questions and Answers on Genesis III, 5). Imagine that: the chopped-up animals, symbolizing potential, and then these birds representing the forces that seek to tear that potential apart.
Think about it. How often do we start something new, something meaningful, only to be beset by doubts, fears, and external pressures? Those, Philo might say, are the birds descending.
So, the next time you feel like something beautiful you’re trying to create is under attack, remember Abraham and the birds. Remember that even in the midst of a sacred covenant, there are forces that try to tear things apart. The key, perhaps, is to be vigilant, to protect what is precious, and to trust in the promise that was made, the covenant that will ultimately prevail. And maybe, just maybe, to shoo those pesky birds away.