And he said unto me, "Thou son of man, O lift up thine eyes, and look toward the north." Then lift I up mine eyes toward the north, and behold: beside the port northward, there was an altar made unto the image of provocation in the very entering in.

And so he brought me into the inward court of the LORD's house. And behold, at the port of the LORD's house, betwixt the fore entry and the altar, there were five and twenty men that turned their backs on the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east, and these worshiped the sun.

Then came there six men out of the street of the upper port toward the north, and every man a weapon in his hand to the slaughter. There was one amongst them, that had on him a linen raiment, and a writer's inkhorn by his side. These went in, and stood beside the brazen altar:

Thou hast builded thy stews and brothel houses in every place: yea, at the head of every street hast thou builded thee an altar.

Then I ask them, 'What is that hill altar that you go to it?' And therefore is it called Bamah unto this day.

and this toward the North, is the priests' that wait upon the altar: these are the sons of Zadok, which of the sons of Levi come near to the LORD, to minister unto him."

So he measured the fore court, which had in length a hundred cubits, and as much in breadth by the four corners. Now the altar stood before the house:

This is the measure of the altar, after the true cubit which is a span longer than another cubit: his bottom in the midst was a cubit long and wide, and the ledge that went round about it, was a span broad. This is the height of the altar:

The altar was four cubits high, and from the altar upward stood four horns,

The covering of the altar was fourteen cubits long and broad upon the four corners, and the ledge that went round about, had half a cubit: and the bottom thereof round about one cubit: his steps stood toward the East.

And he said unto me, "Thou son of man, thus sayeth the LORD God: These are the ordinances and laws of the altar, in the day when it is made to offer burnt offerings, and to sprinkle blood there upon.

and take the blood of him and sprinkle his four horns withal and the four corners of the altar covering, with the ledge that goeth round about: herewith shalt thou cleanse it, and reconcile it.

The next day, take a goat buck without blemish for a sin offering, to reconcile the altar withal: like as it was reconciled with the bullock.

Seven days shall they reconcile and cleanse the altar, and offer upon it.

When these days are expired, then upon the eighth day and so forth, the priests shall offer their burnt offerings and health offerings upon the altar, so will I be merciful unto you, sayeth the LORD God."

So the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering, and sprinkle it upon the posts of the house, and upon the four corners of the altar, with the door posts of the innermore court.

After this he brought me again before the door of the house: and behold, there gushed out waters from under the posts of the house eastward - for the house stood toward the east - that ran down upon the right side of the house, which lieth to the altar southward.