Genesis 28:18

The stone] Jacob set up the stone as marking the spot hallowed by God's presence, and consecrated it by pouring oil upon it. On his return to Palestine (Genesis 35) he set up an altar by it in fulfilment of his vow in this chapter The belief that a stone or pillar was the abode of deity was common among primitive peoples. The stone which Jacob set up was the symbol of the presence of the divine spirit, which he probably believed to be in some way connected with it, seeing that he called the stone 'God's house.' Jacob shared the beliefs of his age, and his idea of God, like his character, was only gradually purified. In consequence of the abuse of these sacred stones in the worship of the Canaanites, their erection was forbidden by the Law; cp. Leviticus 26:1, where 'standing image' should be rendered 'pillar' or 'obelisk,' also Deuteronomy 12:3. There is a well-known tradition that Jacob's stone was brought in after ages to Scotland, and finally placed under the coronation chair in Westminster Abbey. But the fact that 'all the rock at Bethel is limestone, whereas the stone in the Abbey is common granite' (Harper), removes any foundation for the legend.