And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;
Verse 3. Beth-el] See chap. 8.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He went on his journey, or rather, according to his journeys, which he took as he came, going in the same road, and resting in the same place, of which he had experience.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. went on his journeysHisprogress would be by slow marches and frequent encampments as Abramhad to regulate his movements by the prospect of water and pasturage.
unto the place . . . betweenBeth-el and Hai“a conspicuous hillits topmost summitresting on the rocky slopes below, and distinguished by its olivegrovesoffering a natural base for the altar and a fitting shadefor the tent of the patriarch” [STANLEY].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he went on in his journeys from the south,…. He took the same tour, went the same road, stopping at the same resting places, as when he went down to Egypt; having learned, as Jarchi observes, the way of the earth, that a man should not change his host. Though some, as Ben Gersom, understand it of his taking his journeys as were suitable for his cattle, as they were able to bear them, and not overdrive them, lest he should kill them, but made short stages, and frequently stopped and rested. And thus he went on through the southern part of the land, until he came
even to Bethel; as it was afterwards called, though now Luz,
Ge 28:19
unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning; when he first came into the land of Canaan, to a mountain
between Bethel and Hai; afterwards called Mount Ephraim, and was four miles from Jerusalem on the north t; see Ge 12:8.
t Bunting’s Travels, &c. p. 59.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
3. And he went on his journeys. In these words Moses teaches us, that Abram did not rest till he had returned to Bethel. For although he pitched his tent in many places, yet he nowhere so fixed his foot, as to make it his permanent abode. He does not speak of the south in reference to Egypt; he merely means that he had come into the southern part of Judea; and that, therefore, he had, by a long and troublesome journey, arrived at the place where he had determined to remain. Moses next subjoins, that an altar had before been there erected by him and that he then also began anew to call upon the name of the Lord: whereby we may learn, that the holy man was always like himself in worshipping God, and giving evidence of his piety. The explanation given by some, that the inhabitants of the place had been brought to the pure worship of God, is neither probable, nor to be deduced from the words of Moses. And we have stated elsewhere what is the force of the expression, ‘To invoke in the name,’ or, ‘To call upon the name of the Lord;’ namely, to profess the true and pure worship of God. For Abram invoked God, not twelve times only, during the whole course of his life; but whenever he publicly celebrated him, and by a solemn rite, made it manifest that he had nothing in common with the superstitions of the heathen, then he is also said to have called upon God. Therefore, although he always worshipped God, and exercised himself in daily prayers; yet, because he did not daily testify his piety by outward profession before men, this virtue is here especially commended by Moses. It was therefore proper that invocation should be conjoined with the altar; because by the sacrifices offered, he plainly testified what God he worshipped in order that the Canaanites might know that he was not addicted to their common idolatries.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
3. On his journeys An expression peculiar to the nomadic life a pulling up of tent-pins, breaking up of camp, and moving onward . Comp . Gen 12:9, note .
Even to Beth-el See on Gen 12:8.
At the beginning Formerly. His first stop was then at Sichem. Gen 12:6.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And he went on his journeys from the Negev, even to Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there at the beginning, and there Abram called on the name of Yahweh.’
Relieved and full of praise in his heart to God for his preservation Abram takes his tribe back to the cult’s altar, and there he leads the tribe in worship. At this stage Bethel (the area not the city) is clearly looked on as their permanent ‘home’, in as far as a tribe, whose main activity was herding, and who thus had to continually seek pasturage, could have a permanent home.
This establishes that Abram and his family tribe are now semi-nomads. They make some place their centre but move out from that place to pasture their flocks and herds. They must seek places where there is water. At times they must seek higher ground. When the fields in the lowlands have been harvested they can, by agreement, pasture their flocks on the stubble. At the same time, as we shall see later, they are not averse to planting crops and to some extent settling down. Thus they must remain within touch of civilisation, for cities are built where there is a good supply of water, and fields are usually sown where there are men to eat its produce, and civilisation has much to offer in the way of culture and education. Yet they avoid becoming too involved and they stay away from places where they will not be welcome.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;
Bethel; that is the house of God, made remarkable by divine manifestations, Gen 28:19 ; Gen 35:1
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 13:3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;
Ver. 3. And he went on his journeys. ] Many a weary step, and rested not till he came to his old altar at Bethel. Lo here a pattern of great piety and singular zeal, in father Abram. Egypt, with all her plenty and pleasure, had not stolen away his heart, so as not to hold his own in the promised land. Neither had he so laden himself with thick clay, but that he went “from strength to strength” (as those good souls did, Psa 84:7 ); he took long strides; perexit per profectiones suas , as it is here. He went journey after journey, till he appeared before God at his altar, there to sanctify that good he bad got in Egypt, and to give God thanks for it; yea, to consecrate all to him the bestower of it. Oh, let us show ourselves children of Abram indeed, by “walking in these steps of our father Abram” Rom 4:12 Otherwise our outward profession and privileges will profit us no more than it did Dives in hell, that be could call Abraham, father. Luk 16:30
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Genesis
THE IMPORTANCE OF A CHOICE
LIFE IN CANAAN
Gen 13:3
These are the two first acts of Abram in the land of Canaan.
1. All life should blend earthly and heavenly.
2. The family should be a church.
3. The service to God should be more costly than to ourselves.
4. Building for God lasts, for selves perishes.
Fuente: Expositions Of Holy Scripture by Alexander MacLaren
tent: shows him a stranger.
at the beginning: very significant. No altar for Abram in Egypt.
between Beth-el and Hai. Probably Ebal or Gerizim. See note on Gen 12:8.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
from: Gen 12:6, Gen 12:8, Gen 12:9
Bethel and Hai: i.e., The place which was afterwards called Bethel by Jacob, and so called when Moses wrote; for its first name was Luz – Gen 28:19.
Reciprocal: Gen 13:1 – the south Gen 35:1 – Bethel Lev 13:3 – deeper Heb 11:9 – dwelling
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 13:3. He went on to Beth-el Because there he had formerly had an altar, and although the altar had fallen down, as being probably built of earth, or had been taken down by Abram, lest it should be polluted by the idolatrous Canaanites; yet he came to the place of the altar, either to revive the remembrance of the communion he had had with God at that place, or perhaps to pay the vows he had there made to God, when he undertook his journey into Egypt. And there Abram, prevented by no legal restraints, deterred by no pains or penalties, or insurrection of the inhabitants, although idolaters, called on the name of the Lord, worshipped God by prayer and thanksgiving, by offering sacrifices, and instructing his family, Gen 18:19.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
13:3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to {b} Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;
(b) He calls the place by the name which was later given to it, Gen 23:19.