SEV Biblia, Chapter 12:8
Y se pasó de allí a un monte al oriente de Betel, y tendió su tienda, teniendo a Betel al occidente y Hai al oriente; y edificó allí altar al SEÑOR, e invocó el nombre del SEÑOR.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:8
Verse 8. Beth-el] The place which was afterwards called Beth- el by Jacob, for its first name was Luz. See chap. xxviii. 19. la tyb beith El literally signifies the house of God. And pitched his tent-and-builded an altar unto the Lord] Where Abram has a tent, there God must have an ALTAR, as he well knows there is no safety but under the Divine protection. How few who build houses ever think on the propriety and necessity of building an altar to their Maker! The house in which the worship of God is not established cannot be considered as under the Divine protection.
And called upon the name of the Lord.] Dr. Shuckford strongly contends that µb arq kara beshem does not signify to call ON the name, but to invoke IN the name. So Abram invoked Jehovah in or by the name of Jehovah, who had appeared to him. He was taught even in these early times to approach God through a Mediator; and that Mediator, since manifested in the flesh, was known by the name Jehovah. Does not our Lord allude to such a discovery as this when he says, Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad? John viii. 56. Hence it is evident that he was informed that the Christ should be born of his seed, that the nations of the world should be blessed through him; and is it then to be wondered at if he invoked God in the name of this great Mediator?
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-9 - Abram found the country peopled by Canaanites, who were bad neighbours He journeyed, going on still. Sometimes it is the lot of good men to be unsettled, and often to remove into various states. Believers must loo on themselves as strangers and sojourners in this world, Heb 11:8, 13 14. But observe how much comfort Abram had in God. When he could have little satisfaction in converse with the Canaanites whom he foun there, he had abundance of pleasure in communion with that God, wh brought him thither, and did not leave him. Communion with God is kep up by the word and by prayer. God reveals himself and his favours to his people by degrees; before, he had promised to show Abram this land now, to give it to him: as grace is growing, so is comfort. It shoul seem, Abram understood it also as a grant of a better land, of whic this was a type; for he looked for a heavenly country, Heb 11:16. A soon as Abram was got to Canaan, though he was but a stranger an sojourner there, yet he set up, and kept up, the worship of God in his family. He not only minded the ceremonial part of religion, the offering of sacrifice; but he made conscience of seeking his God, an calling on his name; that spiritual sacrifice with which God is wel pleased. He preached concerning the name of the Lord; he taught his family and neighbours the knowledge of the true God, and his holy religion. The way of family worship is a good old way, no new thing but the ancient usage of the saints. Abram was rich, and had a numerou family, was now unsettled, and in the midst of enemies; yet, whereve he pitched his tent, he built an altar: wherever we go, let us not fai to take our religion along with us.
Original Hebrew
ויעתק 6275 משׁם 8033 ההרה 2022 מקדם 6924 לבית אל 1008 ויט 5186 אהלה 168 בית אל 1008 מים 3220 והעי 5857 מקדם 6924 ויבן 1129 שׁם 8033 מזבח 4196 ליהוה 3068 ויקרא 7121 בשׁם 8034 יהוה׃ 3068
