Verses 19-21
Ezekiel was to give to one of the priests that would serve in this sanctuary, a priest from the honored line of Zadok (cf. Ezekiel 40:46; Ezekiel 44:15; 1 Kings 2:35), a young bull for a sin offering. He was to smear some of the bull’s blood on the four horns of the altar and on the four corners of its second tier (cf. Exodus 29:12). This would cleanse the altar and make atonement for it (i.e., purify it). [Note: See J. Milgrom, "Sin-Offering or Purification-Offering?" Vetus Testamentum 21 (1971):237-39.] Similar ceremonies had taken place to cleanse the tabernacle and Solomonic temple altars (cf. Exodus 29:36-37; Leviticus 8:14-17; 2 Chronicles 7:9). Ezekiel was to burn the remainder of this bull outside the inner court (cf. Leviticus 8:17).
"Cleansing was needed because everything associated with man partook of sin and therefore needed to be cleansed, especially if it was to be used in the worship of the Lord." [Note: Alexander, "Ezekiel," p. 971.]
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