Ezekiel 43:19-27

The Sanctifying and Cleansing of the Altar and Reinstitution Of Sacrificial Worship (Ezekiel 43:19).

This process would take seven days. This was unlike the case of the sanctifying of the tabernacle, accomplished through the anointing oil (Exodus 30:22; Exodus 40:10), but like the sanctifying of the temple of Solomon, although there the offerings were whole burnt offerings and peace-offerings (2 Chronicles 7:1), and therefore not having the same significance.

However, the consecration of the priesthood did take seven days (Leviticus 8:33) and required sin offerings. The idea here might be that the altar had been defiled by Israel's previous behaviour and treatment of it. Or more likely it may have in mind its special function as the ‘entry' to the heavenly temple, needing therefore to be totally purified, just as the priesthood who provided access to God had had to be totally purified.