1:8Meaning
Priests arrange the offering on the altar fire Aaron’s sons, identified as the priests, take the cut pieces and place them in an ordered way on the altar setup. The verse specifies key parts—“the head” and “the fat”—and says they are set on the wood that is already on the fire, which is already on the altar. The repeated layering (altar → fire → wood → pieces) highlights an organized, supervised process rather than an improvised burning.
Unit 2 (v. 9a): Certain parts are washed with water
Before the burning is completed, the text calls for washing “its innards” and “its legs.” The instruction singles these out from the other pieces, implying they are treated differently, likely because they could carry dirt or contents that would not fit the intended presentation.
Unit 3 (v. 9b): The whole offering is burned and described by its effect
“The priest” (singular) is then said to burn “the whole” on the altar. The verse stacks descriptions: it is a burnt offering, a fire offering, and it is characterized as producing a “sweet savor” (a pleasing smell) to Yahweh. The logic is that ordered arrangement plus washing leads into complete burning, and the rising smoke is framed as acceptable in Yahweh’s view.