Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 12:6-9

"And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the oak of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. And Jehovah appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto Jehovah, who appeared unto him. And he removed from thence unto the mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Ai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto Jehovah, and called upon the name of Jehovah. And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South." — Genesis 12:6-9 (ASV)

Abram found the country peopled by Canaanites, who were bad neighbors. He journeyed, continuing onward. Sometimes it is the lot of good men to be unsettled, and often to move into various conditions. Believers must look on themselves as strangers and sojourners in this world (Hebrews 11:8, 13, 14). But observe how much comfort Abram had in God. When he could find little satisfaction in conversation with the Canaanites whom he found there, he had abundance of pleasure in communion with that God, who brought him there, and did not leave him.

Communion with God is maintained by the word and by prayer. God reveals Himself and His favors to His people gradually; previously, He had promised to show Abram this land, now, to give it to him: as grace grows, so does comfort. It would seem, Abram also understood it as a grant of a better land, of which this was a type, for he looked for a heavenly country (Hebrews 11:16). As soon as Abram arrived in Canaan, though he was only a stranger and sojourner there, he established and maintained the worship of God in his family.

He not only attended to the ceremonial part of religion, the offering of sacrifice; but he made it a matter of conscience to seek His God and call on His name: that spiritual sacrifice with which God is well pleased. He preached about the name of the Lord; he taught his family and neighbors the knowledge of the true God and His holy religion. The way of family worship is a good old way, not a new thing, but the ancient practice of the saints.

Abram was rich, and had a numerous family, was now unsettled, and in the midst of enemies; yet, wherever he pitched his tent, he built an altar: wherever we go, let us not fail to take our religion with us.