Why did the temple in Ezekiel have stairs leading up to the altar? In exodus God expressly forbade going up the stairs to the altar.


  Exodus 20:26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.


So why does Ezekiel mention stairs to the altar?


  Ezekiel 43:17: The upper ledge also is square, fourteen cubits long and fourteen cubits wide. All around the altar is a gutter of one cubit with a rim of half a cubit. The steps of the altar face east.
The altar was quite large. Here are some illustrations of Solomon's temple that take biblical and historic record into account:






Image sources:


https://dwellingintheword.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/templebronzealtar.jpg
http://www.katehetski-nadbiskupija-split.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/salomonov-hram.jpg
http://www.crystalinks.com/solomon_temple.jpg
http://www.templemount.org/templesolomon.jpg