How Many Fire Arrangements Stood Upon the Altar Each Day

Our Rabbis taught: On every ordinary day there were two fire-arrangements there, and on this day [the Day of Atonement] three: one the great arrangement, one the second arrangement for the incense, and one that they add on this day - the words of Rabbi Yehuda. Rabbi Yose says: On every day three, and on this day four: one the great arrangement, [one the second arrangement] for the incense, one for sustaining the fire, and one that they add on this day. Rabbi Meir says: On every day four, and on this day five, including one for limbs and fat-pieces that were not consumed by evening. At all events everyone agrees there are at least two. From where? Scripture says, "It is the burnt offering on its firewood upon the altar" - this is the great arrangement; "and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it" - this is the second arrangement for the incense. And Rabbi Yose, from where does he derive the arrangement for sustaining the fire? He derives it from "and the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it." And Rabbi Yehuda? That verse comes for the kindling of the wood-chips. And Rabbi Yose, from where does he derive the kindling of the wood-chips? He derives it from where Rabbi Shimon derives it. For it was taught: "And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar" (Leviticus 1:7) - this taught regarding the kindling of the wood-chips that it must be done only by a fit priest and with a service vessel, the words of Rabbi Yehuda. Rabbi Shimon says: Could it enter your mind that a non-priest would approach the altar? Rather, it taught regarding the kindling of the wood-chips that it must be only on the top of the altar. And Rabbi Yehuda? If from there alone, I would have said he stands on the ground and works with a bellows; therefore it informs us otherwise. And Rabbi Meir, from where does he derive limbs and fat-pieces not consumed by evening? He derives it from "and the fire on the altar." And the Rabbis do not expound the connecting "and." And the Rabbis, what do they do with limbs and fat-pieces not consumed? They return them to the great arrangement, as it was taught: From where do we learn that limbs not consumed by evening are arranged on the sides of the altar? And if they do not have room, one arranges them on the ramp or on the surrounding ledge until the great arrangement is made and arranges them. Scripture teaches, "which the fire consumes the burnt offering upon the altar" - what burnt offering? The burnt offering of the day. Is this not obvious? It needed to be stated: if it does not apply to the burnt offering of the day, apply it to limbs and fat-pieces not consumed by evening. And where? Upon the altar. And Rabbi Meir: You return the consumed remains of a burnt offering, but you do not return the consumed remains of the incense. At all events everyone agrees there is one they add on this day. From where? From "and the fire," and even for one who does not expound the "and" (vav), he does expound the "heh." (Below, verse 6) "a perpetual fire" - for what does it come? For that which was taught: "and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it" taught regarding the second arrangement of incense that it must be only on the outer altar. From where do we learn the fire of the fire-pan and the menorah? It is a logical inference: "fire" is stated regarding the incense, and "fire" is stated regarding the fire-pan and the menorah; just as there it is on the outer altar, so here on the outer altar. Or go this way: "fire" is stated regarding the incense and "fire" regarding the fire-pan and menorah; just as there it is from what is near it, so here from what is near it; Scripture teaches, "a perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar" - the fire I told you of shall be only on the outer altar. We have learned fire for the menorah; from where fire for the fire-pan? "Fire" is stated regarding the fire-pan and "fire" regarding the incense; just as there on the outer altar, so here on the outer altar. Or go this way: just as there from what is near it, so here from what is near it; Scripture teaches, "and he shall take a fire-pan full of coals of fire," and so forth - what is the thing of which part is for the LORD and not all of it is for the LORD? You must say this is the outer altar. And it was necessary to write "from upon the altar" and necessary to write "from before the LORD": for had the Merciful One written only "from upon the altar," I would have said, which altar? The inner altar; therefore the Merciful One wrote "from before the LORD." And had the Merciful One written only "from before the LORD," I would have said specifically before the LORD; but from this side and that side, say no; therefore it was necessary.