Why a High Place Needs a Prophet and the Sins of Gideon's Bull

"And Samuel took one suckling lamb" (1 Samuel 7:9). Rabbi Yose bar Hanina said: A high place is never permitted except by means of a prophet. Rabbi Yochanan ben Marya brings it from this: "Then Joshua built an altar, etc." (Joshua 8:30). I have this only at Gilgal; concerning Gideon, whence? "And it came to pass the same night, that He said unto him, etc." (Judges 6:25). Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Seven transgressions were done with Gideon's bull: wood of an asherah, [invalid] stones, muktzeh, one that had been worshipped, a stranger, and night, and one lacking its proper time. I have this only with Gideon; at Shiloh, whence? "And Samuel took one suckling lamb" (1 Samuel 7:9). Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Three transgressions were done with Samuel's ram: it and its skin, and one lacking its proper time, and he was a Levite. Rabbi Yose said: From this [verse] you cannot derive anything. And that which you said, that is what Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Yitzhak said: "And his return was to Ramah, for there was his house, etc." (1 Samuel 7:17).