18 Then he said to me, “Son of man,(A) this is what the Lord God says: These are the statutes for the altar on the day it is constructed, so that burnt offerings(B) may be sacrificed on it and blood may be splattered on it:(C) 19 You are to give a bull from the herd(D) as a sin offering(E) to the Levitical priests who are from the offspring of Zadok,(F) who approach me in order to serve me.”(G) This is the declaration of the Lord God. 20 “You are to take some of its blood and apply it to the four horns(H) of the altar, the four corners of the ledge, and all around the rim. In this way you will purify the altar and make atonement for it.(I) 21 Then you are to take away the bull for the sin offering, and it must be burned outside the sanctuary in the place appointed for the temple.(J)

22 “On the second day you are to present an unblemished male goat as a sin offering. They will purify the altar just as they did with the bull. 23 When you have finished the purification, you are to present a young, unblemished bull(K) and an unblemished ram from the flock.(L) 24 You are to present them before the Lord; the priests will throw salt on them and sacrifice them as a burnt offering to the Lord.(M) 25 You will offer a goat for a sin offering each day for seven days.(N) A young bull and a ram from the flock, both unblemished, are also to be offered. 26 For seven days the priests are to make atonement for the altar and cleanse it. In this way they will consecrate it[a] 27 and complete the days of purification. Then on the eighth day(O) and afterward, the priests will offer your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar, and I will accept you.”(P) This is the declaration of the Lord God.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 43:26 Lit will fill its hands

Purification of the altar

18 He said to me, Human one, the Lord God proclaims: These are the regulations established for the altar on the day when it is prepared for making entirely burned offerings and dashing blood on it. 19 You will provide a young bull as a purification offering to the levitical priests who are descendants of Zadok, the ones who may draw near to minster to me. This is what the Lord God says. 20 You will take some of its blood and set it on the four horns of the altar and on the four sides of the ledge and on the curb all around. So you will purify it and purge it. 21 Then you will take the bull selected as the purification offering, and the priests will burn it in a designated place of the temple outside of the sanctuary. 22 On the second day, you will present a flawless male goat as a purification offering. The priests will purify the altar just as they purified the altar with the bull. 23 When you have completed the purification, you will present a flawless bull from the herd and a flawless ram from the flock. 24 You will present them to the Lord. The priests will throw salt on them and offer them as entirely burned offerings to the Lord. 25 Daily, for seven days, you will present a male goat for a purification offering. You will also present a bull from the herd and a ram from the flock, both flawless. 26 For seven days the priests will purge the altar in order to purify it and to dedicate it. 27 When the seven days are completed, the priests will offer your entirely burned offerings and your well-being sacrifices on the altar from the eighth day on, and I will accept you with pleasure. This is what the Lord God says.

Read full chapter