The Priests and the Burnt Offering (cf. ch. 1). This section, however, obviously refers specially to the continual or daily sacrifice. The fire on the altar is to be perpetual, like the Roman Vesta-fire; the victim is to rest on the hearth or plate on the top of the altar. The priest is to be clothed in linen, as conducing to bodily cleanliness and avoiding sweat (cf. also Exodus 28:42). When the priest carries away the ashes (cf. on Leviticus 4:12), he is to change his garments; the altar garments must not risk infecting common objects (cf. Ezekiel 44:19 *), Originally there was but one burnt offering daily (cf. 2 Kings 16:15), as here; in Exodus 29:38 ff. and Numbers 28:3 ff., two; so Daniel 9:21. Lev. here gives what is relatively the earlier usage.
Leviticus 6:8-13
8 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
9 Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.
10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with 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 burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings.
13 The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.