Leviticus 6:8-13

2. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS, CHIEFLY FOR THE PRIESTS 6:8-7:38

a.

FOR BURNT OFFERINGS Leviticus 6:8-13

b.

FOR MEAL OFFERINGS Leviticus 6:14-23

c.

FOR SIN OFFERINGS Leviticus 6:24-30

d.

FOR TRESPASS OFFERINGS Leviticus 7:1-10

e.

FOR PEACE OFFERINGS Leviticus 7:11-34

f.

THE DIVINE ORIGIN OF THE LAWS Leviticus 7:35-38

THE BURNT OFFERINGS 6:8-13
TEXT 6:8-13

8

And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

9

Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt-offering: the burnt-offering shall be on the hearth upon the altar all night unto the morning; and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning thereon.

10

And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh; and he shall take up the ashes whereto the fire hath consumed the burnt-offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.

11

And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.

12

And the fire upon the altar shall be kept burning thereon, it shall not go out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning: and he shall lay the burnt-offering in order upon it, and shall burn thereon the fat of the peace-offerings.

13

Fire shall be kept burning upon the altar continually; it shall not go out.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 6:8-13

110.

Why repeat the instructions here?

111.

Why keep the fire alive all night?

112.

Are we to understand from this text that the priest must have two changes of clothes to offer the sacrifice?

113.

What two things are done with the ashes?

114.

How often was the burnt offering made?

PARAPHRASE 6:8-13

Then the Lord said to Moses, Give Aaron and his sons these regulations concerning the burnt offering: The burnt offering shall be left upon the hearth of the altar all night, with the altar fire kept burning. (The next morning) the priest shall put on his linen undergarments and his linen outer garments and clean out the ashes of the burnt offering and put them beside the altar. Then he shall change his clothes and carry the ashes outside the camp to a place that is ceremonially clean. Meanwhile, the fire on the altar must be kept burningit must not go out. The priest shall put on fresh wood each morning, and lay the daily burnt offering on it, and burn the fat of the daily peace offering. The fire must be kept burning upon the altar continually. It must never go out.

COMMENT 6:8-13

Leviticus 6:8-9 We begin here instructions addressed to Aaron and his sons. The previous Chapter s were addressed to the children of Israel. We have learned about the sacrifices from the viewpoint of the worshipper; we now approach it as a priest. The burnt offering represents God's judgment upon sin. In the continual burning of the sacrifice on the altar we can parallel the everlasting quality of this judgment. We think of Revelation 14:11, The smoke of their torment goeth up forever and ever. The smoke never ceased from ascending and the fire never went out.

It is good to remember that the blood and sacrifice of our burnt offering will never cease to lose its power.

Leviticus 6:10 In the morning of every day the priest was to put on his linen dress (see Exodus 28:42) and the white drawers, and lift off, i.e. clear away, the ashes to which the fire had consumed the burnt offering upon the altar, and pour them down beside the altar (see Leviticus 1:16). (Keil & Delitzsch)

If this priest is typical of our great high priest and He is occupied with the work of atonement for us the white garments could well represent His purity (Cf. Revelation 19:8).

With the daily removal of the ashes the fire could be kept burning in a clear, bright manner.

Leviticus 6:11 The priest must change his clothes before he can carry the ashes to a clean place without the camp. This would be for the purpose of allowing time to wash the garments used for the sacrifice. Hebrews 13:10-13 definitely relates our Lord to this act. He is the one who became our burnt offering. Can we see in Joseph's tomb a clean place (since it was never used)? The tomb was without the gateor beyond the walls of Jerusalemwhat a wonder it would be to find Jeremiah's valley of ashes in the same location as Calvary and Joseph's tomb!

Leviticus 6:12 The fact is stated in Leviticus 6:9 that the fire of the altar was not to go out. In this verse we have an explanation of how it is to be kept burning. The quantity of wood along with the sacrifice is replenished each morning by the priest. When the size of the altar is considered along with the slow burning nature of the flesh upon the fire it would be easy to contemplate a banked fire sufficient for the day. This was repeated at the end of the day; and as often as sacrifices were brought by the Israelites-'. The fat burned separate from the animal would add quick fuel to the fire.

Leviticus 6:13 We are reminded once again that the fire must be kept alive and burning upon the altar. We are almost instinctively drawn to references of eternal fire in the New Testament. It is our Lord who spoke most of this subject. He said of this punishment, And if thy hand cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. Three times in four verses He does not make reference to the fire that never goes out nor is it wanting for fuel! Cf. Mark 9:44-50. We are so glad for the eternal redemption provided by our sacrifice (Cf. Hebrews 9:12).

FACT QUESTIONS 6:8-13

146.

Isn-'t the material given in this section repetitious of chapter one? Explain.

147.

The burnt offering represents what aspect of God's character?

148.

What is learned from the fact that the fire on the altar is to never go out?

149.

The priest was to change his clothes at least twice. When? For what purpose?

150.

Who is typified in the garments of the priest?

151.

Show how Hebrews 13:10-13 relates to this section. How was the fire kept perpetually burning?

152.

Explain Mark 9:44-50 and Hebrews 9:12 as they compare with this text.