Abram returned to Bethel, to the place of the altar he had made at the first, and there he called on the name of the LORD (Genesis 13:3-4).
The return brought Abram back to the place where he had previously worshiped after his time in Egypt. In the provided transcripts, Les Feldick does not directly explain this specific return, but he does teach that Bethel means 'house of God,' which points to its significance as a place of worship.
Genesis 13:3-4 — This is the specific passage where Abram returns to Bethel, to the place of the altar he had made at the first, and calls on the name of the LORD.
Genesis 13:3-4 records that after Abram left Egypt he journeyed from the south to Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai. It was the place of the altar he had made there at the first, and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. The passage does not state an explicit motive for the return; it simply shows Abram going back to the same place of worship and calling on the name of the LORD.
In the supplied transcripts, Les does not directly address Abram's return to Bethel. He does, however, explain that Bethel means 'house of God,' combining Beth (house) and El (a contraction of Elohim), when discussing Jacob's naming of the place. Les also repeatedly describes Abram's calling: God reached down to one man in an idolatrous home in Ur, told him to leave his country and family, and that call began the Abrahamic covenant. Les notes that Abram was not totally obedient because his father went with him, and he comments on Abram's prosperity in cattle, silver, and gold after Egypt.
The Bible's record (Genesis 13:3-4) shows Abram returning to Bethel, to the place of the altar he had built at the first, and calling on the name of the LORD. The text does not give a stated motive; it connects the return to the place where he had previously worshiped.
Les Feldick explains that the Hebrew name Bethel is made of Beth, meaning house, and El, a contraction of Elohim. So Bethel means 'the house of God.' Jacob gave that name to the place after his dream (Genesis 28:19).
The supplied clips focus on the beginning of Abram's calling, not the return to Bethel. Les teaches that God called Abram out of an idolatrous family and country, and the biblical record shows Abram's return to Bethel as a return to the altar where he had previously called on the LORD.
Abram's Prosperity After Egypt
Les notes that Abram was rich in cattle, silver, and gold, showing the material outcome of this part of Abram's life.
Meaning of Bethel
Les explains that Bethel combines Beth (house) and El (Elohim), so it means the house of God.
Beginning of the Abrahamic Covenant
Les points to God's call to Abram in Ur as the beginning of God's dealings with the man from whom the nation of Israel would come.
Abram's Idolatrous Background
Les says Abram's family were idolaters, which is why God told him to leave his country and family.
Abram's Partial Obedience
Les says Abram was not completely obedient because his father came with him, causing a delay at Haran.
Who is the Angel of the Lord? Genesis 16 Bible Study
And verse 13, "...and she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me. For she said, Have I here also looked after him that seeth me? And wherefore," verse 14, "...the well was called," remember this is where she had stopped to get some water, "...
God's Grace to One Man
Les describes God reaching down in grace to one man, Abram, in a world steeped in idolatry.
God’s Promise to Abraham: Understanding Genesis 12 & 15
Come back to verse 3 where He says, "...and in thee," that is through Abram, through Abraham, "...shall all families of the earth be blessed." Now, I know there will be some people that will violently disagree with me when I point out that at this point in time, from Abram's viewpoint, not from God's necessarily, but from Abram's viewpoint, this is what he saw, that God was going to use the nation…
Genesis 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;
Describes Abram's journey from the south to Bethel, returning to the earlier campsite.
Genesis 13:4: Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
Shows Abram at the altar he had first built, calling on the LORD.
Genesis 12:1: Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
Records the initial call that started Abram on the journey that would bring him to Bethel.
Genesis 28:19: And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.
Shows Jacob giving the name Bethel, which Les cites to explain the meaning.
Genesis 13:3-4. Abram went on his journeys from the south to Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, and to the altar he had made there at the first. There he called on the name of the LORD.
The Bible records Abram returning to Bethel in Genesis 13:3-4, and then the strife between Abram's herdsmen and Lot's herdsmen follows later in the same chapter.
In the supplied clips, Les Feldick explains that Beth means house and El is a contraction of Elohim, so Bethel means the house of God. Jacob gave that name to the place after his dream.
Watch the Teaching: Why Abram Failed in Egypt & God Restored Him | Genesis 12-14