This statement has been offered as proof that the Israelites were assembling at Bethel instead of at Shiloh, since an altar must have already existed in connection with the tabernacle at Shiloh. On the other hand, those who believe that the reference is to Shiloh take the passage to mean that the people built a new altar at Shiloh, either because the old one was in disrepair, or because another one was needed to handle the large number of sacrifices being made (see on ch. 20:18, 27; 21:2).