Keraia
Genesis 12

Genesis 12:8

The Call of Abram · Genesis 12:1–9
Read Genesis 12

Translations

Modern
From there Abram moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built an altar to the LORD, and he called on the name of the LORD.
Traditional
And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth–el, and pitched his tent, having Beth–el on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.
Literal
And he moved on from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And he built there an altar to YHWH, and he called on the name of YHWH.
Latin
Et inde transgrediens ad montem, qui erat contra orientem Bethel, tetendit ibi tabernaculum suum, ab occidente habens Bethel, et ab oriente Hai: ædificavit quoque ibi altare Domino, et invocavit nomen ejus.

Original

Hebrew
English
From there Abram moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built an altar to the LORD, and he called on the name of the LORD.

Notes

Genesis 12:8

he called on the name of the LORD: Calling on the name (identity and character) of the Lord is central to worship and witness (compare 4:26; see Exodus 34:5–7). Abram needed to distinguish his sacrificial worship from that of the pagan Canaanites.

Genesis 12:8–9

Abram had to keep moving camp because the Canaanites had the fertile land.

Genesis 12:4–9

Abram obeyed God's calling and followed his commands (see study note on 12:1–3). He traveled to Canaan (12:4–6) and became a blessing (12:5–9).

Genesis 12:1–9

  • Through Abram's faith and family, God started to restore the blessing. God called Abram from a pagan world to start a new nation. His promises to Abram later became a covenant (chapter 15).

  • God's calling of Abram later helped convince the Israelites to leave Egypt and go to the land God promised to Abram. It also reminded the Babylonian exiles of their need to return to their own land (for example, Isaiah 51).

Events

Parallels

Genesis 26:1–5 Acts 7:1–8

Places

Ai: A Canaanite city conquered by Joshua after initial defeat Bethel: Important city in Israel, associated with Abraham and Jacob

Glossary

Abraham Ai Altar Bethel (Place), Bethelite Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Ebla Tablets Genesis, Book of Hai History of Israel Jeroboam Judges, Book of Monotheism Nations Patriarchs, Period of the Priests and Levites Promise

Topics

Abraham: Lives in Bethel Abraham: Piety of Altar: Built by Abraham Altars of Abraham Beth-El: A City North of Jerusalem: Abraham Estblishes an Altar At Courage: The Courage of Conviction: Abraham, in Leaving his Fatherland Family: Religion of The Hai: General Scriptures Concerning High Places: A Term Used to Describe Places of Worship Patriarchal Government: Exercised in Acting As Priests Prayer by Abraham Prayer is Described as Calling Upon the Name of the Lord Priests: During Patriarchal Age Heads of Families Acted As Religion: Outstanding Religious Persons: Abraham Social and Family Prayer: Abram Tent by Abraham Worship of Abraham