Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 15:1

1 AFter these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a Vision , saying, Fear not, Abram : I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward .

God antiently revealed himself to men two ways, Either 1. When the man was asleep, in a dream: Or 2. In a vision, Num. 12. 6. when he was awake; and this either 1. When he was wrapt into an Extasie, wherein his senses are idle, but his mind is active and elevated to the contemplation and understanding of what God reveals. See Numb. 12. 6, 7, 8. and 24. 4. Isa. 1. 1. Act. 10. 10, 11. Or 2. When the thing was manifested by an external representation. So here, God seems to have appeared to Abram in the shape of a man, as he did Gen. 18. as may be gathered from v. 5, 10.

Neither the return of those Enemies whom thou hast smitten and provoked, nor the envy of thy neighbours for this glorious victory, nor for thy own desolate condition.

Seeing thou didst trust to my protection, I will be a shield or a protectour to thee; and seeing thou didst so honourably and for my sake reject other rewards, taken by thy self, and offered by the King of Sodom, thou shalt be no loser by it, I will abundantly recompence all thy piety to me, and charity to thy afflicted kinsman Lot, and thy liberality towards others, I will bless thee with all sorts of good things, as well as defend thee from all evil: which two things make a man compleatly happy.

Marginal references: Psal. 3. 3. & 5. 12. & 84. 11. & 91. 4.; Or, thy reward shall be very great.; Psal. 16. 5.