Leviticus 9:24

Leviticus 9:24

And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

a. NLT: Fire blazed forth from the LORD’s presence and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When the people saw this, they shouted with joy and fell face down on the ground.

b. NIV: Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.

c. YLT: And fire cometh out from before Jehovah, and consumeth on the altar the burnt-offering, and the fat; and all the people see, and cry aloud, and fall on their faces.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Then there came a fire out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.

e. Septuagint: And fire came forth from the Lord, and devoured the offerings on the altar, both the whole-burnt-offerings and the fat; and all the people saw, and were amazed, and fell upon their faces.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: A fire went forth from before HASHEM an consumed upon the Altar the elevation-offering and the fats; the people saw and sang glad song and fell upon their faces.

1. “And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat…”

a. And there came [Strong: 3318 yatsa' yaw-tsaw' a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.:--X after, appear, X assuredly, bear out, X begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), + be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, X scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, X still, X surely, take forth (out), at any time, X to (and fro), utter.]

b. a fire [Strong: 784 'esh aysh a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively):-- burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.]

c. [out] from before [Strong: 6440  paniym paw-neem' plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh {paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time), against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of), + beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), + honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, + meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on, open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street, X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s) past, (un-)to(-ward), + upon, upside (+ down), with(- in, + -stand), X ye, X you.]

d. [of the] Lord [Strong: 3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw' from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

e. and consumed [398 'akal aw-kal' a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, X quite.]

f. upon [Strong: 5921 `al al properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications (as follow):--above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, X with.]

g. the altar [Strong: 4196 mizbeach miz-bay'-akh from 2076; an altar:--altar.]

h. the burnt offering [Strong: 5930 `olah o-law' or mowlah {o-law'}; feminine active participle of 5927; a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke):--ascent, burnt offering (sacrifice), go up to.]

i. and [Strong: 853 'eth ayth apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).]

j. the fat [Strong: 2459 cheleb kheh'-leb or cheleb {khay'-leb}; from an unused root meaning to be fat; fat, whether literally or figuratively; hence, the richest or choice part:--X best, fat(-ness), X finest, grease, marrow.]

1). Many Bible scholars believe the original fire on the altar was ignited by God which occurred at the dedication of the Tabernacle. The evidence which seemingly disputes this are the obvious times in Leviticus 9 where it clearly mentions fire being used in the previous different offerings.

2). The following note is found in the Chumash Jewish Commentary: “There was no permanent fire on the Altar until the Heavenly fire came down (v. 24) and consumed the sacrificial parts. Thus, the intent of the term in our verse [Leviticus 9:10] is that Aaron placed it on the pyre, so that it would be ready to be burned when the Heavenly fire descended upon the Altar (Rashburn to v. 13; Haamek Davar).

3). John Wesley’s notes on the other hand says, He burnt it-By ordinary fire, which was used until the fire came down from heaven, Le 9:24, though afterwards it was forbidden. And if it had not been allowed otherwise, yet this being done by Aaron at the command of Moses, and consequently with God's approbation, it was unquestionably lawful.  Add to this, that there is nothing said to be consumed by that heavenly fire, but the burnt-offering with the fat belonging to it, namely, that burnt-offering mentioned Le 9:16, which therefore is not there said to be burnt, as it is said of the other burnt-offering, Le 9:13, and of the rest of the sacrifices in their places.

4). The note in the Geneva Study Bible says, “That is, he laid them in order, and so they were burnt when the Lord sent down fire.”

5). Matthew Poole’s Commentary gives both possibilities. “Either, Disposed it for the burning, i.e. laid it upon the altar where it was to be burnt by the heavenly fire, Le 9:24. Thus interpreters generally understand the word here, as also Le 9:13,17,20, by an anticipation; or the consequent is put for the antecedent, of which there are examples in Scripture. Or, properly burnt by ordinary fire, which was used and allowed until the fire came down from heaven, Le 9:24, though afterwards it was forbidden. And if it had not been allowed otherwise, yet this being done by Aaron at the command of Moses, and consequently with God's approbation, it was unquestionably lawful. And therefore there seems to be no necessity of departing from the proper sense of the word. Add to this, that there is nothing said to be consumed by that heavenly fire, but the burnt-offering with the fat belonging to it, namely, that burnt-offering mentioned Le 9:16, which therefore is not there said to be burnt, as it is said of the other burnt-offering, Le 9:13, and of the rest of the sacrifices in their places.

6). Patrick/Lowth/Whitby/Lowman Commentary: He burnt upon the altar; Laid or disposed them upon the altar, to be burnt by the heavenly fire (Le 9:24), as most understand it. And the LXX(Septuagint) justify this opinion; who, though they here translate it, “he offered it on the altar,” yet, Le 9:13, where there is the same phrase, they expressly translate it, “he laid the burnt-offering upon the altar;” and again, Le 9:17, in the same manner, “he laid it upon the altar, beside the burnt-sacrifice of the morning.” For common fire, it is supposed, was no longer to be used when Aaron’s sacrifice began; as it had been all along before. But there is no certainty in this: and we may as well take the words in their proper sense, that Aaron burnt this and the following sacrifice, as Moses had done before (Le 8:14,21,28), until the burnt-offering for the people came to be offered, which God consumed by fire from himself; and then followed those other sacrifices mentioned, Le 9:17-18. For all these sacrifices, for Aaron and for the people, could not be laid upon the altar at once; but one after another, in the order here directed; and consequently, this sacrifice here mentioned was actually burnt upon the altar, to make way for those which followed it.

2. “…which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.”

a. [which when] all  [Strong: 3605 kol kole or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).]   

b. the people [Strong: 5971 `am am from 6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock:--folk, men, nation, people.]

c. saw [Strong: 7200 ra'ah raw-aw' a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve, behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X surely, X think, view, visions.]

d. they shouted [Strong: 7442 ranan raw-nan' a primitive root; properly, to creak (or emit a stridulous sound), i.e. to shout (usually for joy):--aloud for joy, cry out, be joyful (greatly, make to) rejoice, (cause to) shout (for joy), (cause to) sing (aloud, for joy, out), triumph.]

e. and fell [Strong: 5307 naphal naw-fal' a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative):--be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for 6419), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.]

f. on their faces [Strong: 6440  paniym paw-neem' plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh {paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time), against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of), + beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), + honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, + meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on, open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street, X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s) past, (un-)to(-ward), + upon, upside (+ down), with(- in, + -stand), X ye, X you.]

1). The picture here is that the glory of God appeared to the people and the fire of God came out from the glory and consumed the sacrifice. Then everyone got on their faces before God. It is here we proceed to Leviticus 10 and the deaths of Nadab and Abihu.