ANTIQJJITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 



the moft antient of- any in the world, were raifed in Judea, 

 all over the Holy Land, by the eaftern- princes- and patriarchs, by 

 whom they were called Bethels, and Efbsthefs. The manner of' 

 confecration was with oil poured on the pillar. One of thefe 

 pillars was erected by Jacob, and he called it the Houfe of God. 

 " Jacob rofe up early in the morning, and took the ftone that 

 " he had put for his pillows, and fet it u-p for a pillar, and pour- 

 " 6d oyl upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place 

 c; Bet be!: but the name of that city wa's called Lnz at the firft. 

 " And. he faid, this ftone which I have fet up for a pillar, fhall 

 " be God's Houfe (p). Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land 

 " of Canaan (that is, Bethel) he and all the people that were with 

 " him. And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbe-- 

 " ibel (q)- And "Jacob fet up a pillar in the place where he talked 

 " with God, even a pillar of ftone, and he poured a drink-offer- 

 " ing thereon, and he poured oyl thereon. And Jacob called the 

 " name of the place where God fpake with him Bethel fr)." 



The making of the altars of earth, or of natural ftone as 

 formed in the earth, was by the direction of God to Mofes. " An 

 " altar of earth thou flialt make unto me. And if thou wilt 

 ' make me an altar of ftone, thou flialt not build it of hewn 

 " ftone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou haft polluted 

 " it (sj." 



Thefe temples were generally erected on the higher 

 ground, fuch as were moft confpicuous and obvious to fight. 

 Thus one was built by Mofes (t), and another by JoJJwa, on 



(p) Gen. xxviii. ver. 18, 19. 22. 



(q) xxxv. ver. 6, 7. 



(r) xiv. 15. 



(s) Exod. xx. ver. 24, 25. 

 (t) Deut. xxvii. ver. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 



mount 



