Leviticus 6 · a question people ask
Does Leviticus say why the fire must never go out?
No. It gives the command three times (6:9, 6:12, 6:13) without a reason. It does say what was burned on it day by day: the priest burns wood on it "every morning" and lays the burnt offering on it (6:12), and the priests' meal offering is offered "half of it in the morning, and half of it in the evening" (6:20). Exodus had set "two lambs a year old day by day continually" on the altar, one in the morning and one at evening (Exodus 29:38-39). Leviticus also tells of fire from the LORD. When Aaron first offered, "Fire came out from before the LORD, and consumed the burnt offering and the fat upon the altar" (9:24). Soon after, Nadab and Abihu "offered strange fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them" (10:1). Leviticus doesn't tie either event to the command in 6:13.
The verses
““Command Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the law of the burnt offering: the burnt offering shall be on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning; and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it.”
“The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it, it shall not go out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning. He shall lay the burnt offering in order upon it, and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out.”
““This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer to the LORD in the day when he is anointed: one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering perpetually, half of it in the morning, and half of it in the evening.”
““Now this is that which you shall offer on the altar: two lambs a year old day by day continually. The one lamb you shall offer in the morning; and the other lamb you shall offer at evening;”