Leviticus 6:8-13·~1 min

The Burnt Offering

The LORD gives Aaron and his sons the law of the burnt offering. It stays on the hearth through the night, and the priest, dressed properly, removes the ashes and carries them to a clean place outside the camp.

T⁸hen the LORD said to Moses, ⁹“Command Aaron and his sons that this is the law of the burnt offering: The burnt offering is to remain on the hearth of the altar all night, until morning, and the fire must be kept burning on the altar. ¹⁰And the priest shall put on his linen robe and linen undergarments, and he shall remove from the altar the ashes of the burnt offering that the fire has consumed and place them beside it. ¹¹Then he must take off his garments, put on other clothes, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a ceremonially clean place.

The altar fire must be kept burning without interruption. Each morning the priest adds wood, arranges the burnt offering, and keeps the fire going continually.

¹²The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it must not be extinguished. Every morning the priest is to add wood to the fire, arrange the burnt offering on it, and burn the fat portions of the peace offerings on it. ¹³The fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it must not be extinguished.

Section summaryThe burnt offering remains on the altar through the night, and the priest tends its ashes and fire with care. The fire must never go out, but be fed each morning as the altar’s steady work continues.

Role in the chapterThis section turns from guilt cases to the ongoing maintenance of worship. It emphasizes continuity, showing the altar not as an occasional site but as a place of constant, guarded service.