Abraham Standing Outside His TentBible World

Genesis 13:18

Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.

After his separation from Lot, Abram moved to Hebron and pitched his tent on the plain of Mamre among its oaks. In that removal he left to Lot the perilous luxury of the vale of Sodom, choosing for himself the upland setting and the simple patriarchal life. To provide for his large household he moved from place to place.

Wherever he settled he erected an altar beside his tent to worship the living God. His worship traveled with him, for when he moved the altar remained behind as a witness to the Canaanites, and when he settled again he repaired the altar and worshiped. That altar stood wherever he went as a living public testimony, and even the roving Canaanites recognized it as such.

By worshiping God at each stopping place he taught his family to love and fear Him. His example teaches that worship should be visible and that every household should establish its own practice of worship.