Genesis 12:1

¹ Now the Lord said to Abram, Go out from your country and from your family and from your father's house, into the land to which I will be your guide:

Arcana Coelestia #796

796. As the Most Ancient Church held holy worship upon mountains, the Ancient Church did the same. And hence in all the representative churches of that time, and in all the nations too, the custom prevailed of sacrificing upon mountains and of building high places, as is evident from what is related of Abram (Genesis 12:1; 22:2); and of the Jews before the building of the temple (Deuteronomy 27:4-7; Joshua 8:30; 1 Samuel 9:12-14, 19; 10:5; 1 Kings 3:2-4); of the nations (Deuteronomy 12:2; 2 Kings 17:9-11); and of the idolatrous Jews (Isaiah 57:7; 1 Kings 11:7; 14:23; 22:43; 2 Kings 12:3; 14:4; 15:3-4, 34-35; 16:4; 17:9-11; 21:5; 23:5, 8-9, 13, 15).

Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for the permission to use this translation.

³ However the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.