Genesis 15:9-11 ESV
He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
The Lord responds to Abram's question by first telling him to gather these particular animals. Three of the animals are to be three years old. The number three is the spiritual number of the divine in Scripture. There are five animals required. Five is the number of grace. Later Moses would specify these animals to be used for burnt offerings, a sacrifice for the cleansing of sin. See Leviticus Chapter 1.
These verses contain a message of the Lord's divine grace. This is the fundamental answer to Abram's question. The word of the Lord would be be fulfilled according to His grace.
Cutting animals as a sign and witness to a covenant was not uncommon in that day, but the Lord would use this vehicle of symbolism in an uncommon way. The birds that normally would feast on the dead are driven away. This could be an early sign of the coming defeat of death.
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