1 Kings 18:32

With the assistance of the people, who readily yielded their helping hand, he built an altar; which, though generally forbidden, he might do, because he did it by the command and suggestion of God, who can dispense with his own laws, and upon apparent and urgent necessity, and for a work of great mercy, (to which even by God's command the ceremonial laws must give place, Hosea 6:6 Mark 2:27) even for the conversion of the Israelites, whom it was impossible to bring to the altar of Jerusalem at this time. In the name of the Lord; by the authority of God, and for his worship. Two measures, i.e. two third parts of an ephah; which shows that the trench was of a competent largeness.