Deuteronomy 12:4
Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.
Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God. Not sacrifice to him on hills and mountains, and under green trees; though the Jews commonly refer this to the destruction of the names of God, and of any thing appertaining to the temple; that though the temples and the altars of the Heathens were to be overthrown, yet not a stone was to be taken from the house of God, or that belonged to it, nor any of his names to be blotted out; so the Targum of Jonathan and Maimonides {z}, who also observes {a}, that whoever removes a stone by way of destruction from the altar, or from the temple, or from the court, is to be beaten; so he that burns the holy wood.
{z} Yesode Hattorah, c. 6. sect. 7, 9.
{a} Ibid. sect. 8.