Augustine of Hippo : DID JACOB IMITATE IDOLATERS BY ERECTING MONUMENTS? — And God went up from him from the place where he spoke with him. And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where God spoke with him, a pillar of stone; and offered a sacrifice upon it, and poured oil upon it. And Jacob called the name of the place in which God spoke with him, Bethel . Did this happen again in the same place where it had happened before? Or is it mentioned again? Whatever it was, Jacob offered a sacrifice, but not on the stone. He did not act, then, as idolaters do, who erect altars in front of the stone and offer a sacrifice as if they were gods. [ — QUESTIONS ON GENESIS, Q. 115 (tr. J. Litteral, draft)