Lev 6:8-18 | NETfull | STEP | [Heb. 6:1] Then the Lord spoke to Moses:

Leviticus 6:8-18

Sacrificial Instructions for the Priests: The Burnt Offering

8 [Heb. 6:1] ^{▼▼ Lev 6:8 in the English Bible = 6:1 in the Hebrew text. See also the note on 6:1.} Then the Lord spoke to Moses: ^{▼▼ The following paragraphs are Lev 6:8–30 in the English Bible but 6:1–23 in the Hebrew text. This initial verse makes the special priestly regulations for the people’s burnt and grain offerings into a single unit (i.e., Lev 6:8–18 [6:1–11 HT]; cf. Lev 1–2 above). Note also the separate introductions for various priestly regulations in Lev 6:19 [12 HT], 24 [17 HT], and for the common people in Lev 7:22, 28 below.} 9 “Command Aaron and his sons, ‘This is the law of the burnt offering. The burnt offering is to remain on the hearth ^{▼▼ Heb “It is the burnt offering on the hearth.”} on the altar all night until morning, and the fire of the altar must be kept burning on it. ^{▼▼ Heb “in it.” In this context “in it” apparently refers to the “hearth” which was on top of the altar.} 10 Then the priest must put on his linen robe and must put linen leggings ^{▼▼ The exact nature of this article of the priest’s clothing is difficult to determine. Cf. KJV, ASV “breeches”; NAB “drawers”; NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT “undergarments”; NCV “underclothes”; CEV “underwear”; TEV “shorts.”} over his bare flesh, and he must take up the fatty ashes of the burnt offering that the fire consumed on the altar, ^{▼▼ Heb “he shall lift up the fatty ashes which the fire shall consume the burnt offering on the altar.”} and he must place them ^{▼▼ Heb “it,” referring the “fatty ashes” as a single unit.} beside the altar. 11 Then he must take off his clothes and put on other clothes, and he must bring the fatty ashes outside the camp to a ceremonially ^{▼▼ The word “ceremonially” has been supplied in the translation to clarify that the uncleanness of the place involved is ritual or ceremonial in nature.} clean place, 12 but the fire which is on the altar must be kept burning on it. ^{▼▼ Heb “in it,” apparently referring to the “hearth” which was on top of the altar (cf. the note on v. 9).} It must not be extinguished. So the priest must kindle wood on it morning by morning, and he must arrange the burnt offering on it and offer the fat of the peace offering up in smoke on it. 13 A continual fire must be kept burning on the altar. It must not be extinguished.

The Grain Offering of the Common Person

14 “‘This is the law of the grain offering. The sons of Aaron are to present it ^{▼▼ Heb “offering it, the sons of Aaron.” The verb is a Hiphil infinitive absolute, which is used here in place of the finite verb as either a jussive (GKC 346 #113.cc, “let the sons of Aaron offer”) or more likely an injunctive in light of the verbs that follow (Joüon 2:430 #123.v, “the sons of Aaron shall/must offer”).} before the Lord in front of the altar, 15 and the priest ^{▼▼ Heb “and he”; the referent has been specified in the translation for clarity. The “he” refers to the officiating priest. A similar shift between singular and plural occurs in Lev 1:7–9, but see the note on Lev 1:7 and J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [WBC], 89 for the possibility of textual corruption.} must take up with his hand some of the choice wheat flour of the grain offering ^{▼▼ Heb “shall take up from it with his hand some of the choice wheat flour of the grain offering.”} and some of its olive oil, and all of the frankincense that is on the grain offering, and he must offer its memorial portion ^{▼▼ See the note on Lev 2:2.} up in smoke on the altar ^{▼▼ Smr reading, which includes the locative ה (hey, translated “on” the altar), is preferred here. This is the normal construction with the verb “offer up in smoke” in Lev 1–7 (see the note on Lev 1:9).} as a soothing aroma to the Lord. ^{▼▼ Heb “and he shall offer up in smoke [on] the altar a soothing aroma, its memorial portion, to the Lord.”} 16 Aaron and his sons are to eat what is left over from it. It must be eaten unleavened in a holy place; they are to eat it in the courtyard of the Meeting Tent. 17 It must not be baked with yeast. ^{▼▼ Heb “It must not be baked leavened” (cf. Lev 2:11). The noun “leaven” is traditional in English versions (cf. KJV, ASV, NASB, NRSV), but “yeast” is more commonly used today.} I have given it as their portion from my gifts. It is most holy, ^{▼▼ Heb “holiness of holinesses [or holy of holies] it is”; cf. NAB “most sacred.”} like the sin offering and the guilt offering. 18 Every male among the sons of Aaron may eat it. It is a perpetual allotted portion ^{▼▼ Or “a perpetual regulation”; cf. NASB “a permanent ordinance”; NRSV “as their perpetual due.”} throughout your generations ^{▼▼ Heb “for your generations”; cf. NIV “for the generations to come.”} from the gifts of the Lord. Anyone who touches these gifts ^{▼▼ Heb “touches them”; the referent has been specified in the translation for clarity. In this context “them” must refer to the “gifts” of the Lord.} must be holy.’” ^{▼▼ Or “anyone/anything that touches them shall become holy” (J. Milgrom, Leviticus [AB], 1:443–56). The question is whether this refers to the contagious nature of holy objects (cf. NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT) or whether it simply sets forth a demand that anyone who touches the holy gifts of the Lord must be a holy person (cf. CEV). See R. E. Averbeck, NIDOTTE 2:900–902.}