Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.
Behold, northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy - the principal avenue to the altar of Burnt offering; as to the northern position, see 2 Kings 16:14. Ahaz had removed the brasen altar from the front of the Lord's house to the north of the altar which he had himself erected. The locality of the idol enhances the heinousness of the sin, directly in front of God's own altar.