John Calvin Commentary Genesis 13:3

"And he went on his journeys from the South even to Beth-el, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beth-el and Ai," — Genesis 13:3 (ASV)

And he went on his journeys. In these words Moses teaches us that Abram did not rest until he had returned to Bethel. For although he pitched his tent in many places, he nowhere settled so firmly as to make it his permanent home. 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, after a long and troublesome journey, he had arrived at the place where he had decided to remain.

Moses next adds that an altar had previously been erected there by him and that he then also began again to call upon the name of the Lord. From this we may learn that the holy man was always consistent in worshipping God and demonstrating 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 can it 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 only twelve times 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 engaged in daily prayers, yet because he did not daily testify to his piety by outward profession before men, this virtue is especially commended here by Moses. It was therefore proper that invocation should be joined with the altar, because by the sacrifices offered, he plainly testified which God he worshipped, so that the Canaanites might know that he was not given to their common idolatries.