In ancient
Israel people used to worship on high places (bamot).
This was quite in order before the Book of Deuteronomy (12:4) restricted
the cult to one center alone. Samuel himself officiated at one (1 Samuel
9:12 - 14). The top of an early Israelite example may be
viewed at Hazor beneath the (later) foundations of Ahab's palace there. The
grandest is the platform at Dan.