Definition: 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.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from Leviticus 6:12. It’s a really important part of Jewish law that deals with dealing with blood sacrifices – essentially, offering animal blood to atone for sins. Here's what it means in simple terms: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a specific ritual designed to completely destroy any traces of blood from an animal sacrifice. It’s like saying, "Once this animal is sacrificed, it can't be used again." Let’s unpack the details: "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..." – This is a constant process. The priest (a high-ranking official) would always be burning wood on the altar. He’d arrange the burnt offerings – pieces of animal fat, meat, etc. – on top of the burning wood. It's a continuous cycle. "...and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings." - This is the key part. "Peace offerings" were animals that weren’t sacrificed for sin, like lambs or goats. The priest would specifically burn the fat (the meat) from these animals. Why did this happen? This practice was a way to make sure that after an animal died and was offered as a sacrifice, there wouldn't be any lingering blood residue left behind. It was believed that even a tiny amount of blood could attract the wrath of God and cause trouble. It was about purification and ensuring a clean offering. In short, it’s a ritual to completely remove any trace of blood from an animal sacrifice. Important Note: This practice is now largely considered outdated and has been removed from Jewish law due to its association with ritual murder (killing an animal for religious purposes). However, understanding this verse helps us appreciate the deep historical context and the importance of ritual purity in Judaism. --- Do you want me to: Explain any of these points in more detail? Give you a quick history of this practice?