This passage alludes to the qâr·bân·ot′ and the Bronze Miz·bei′ akh, as contrasted with the Golden Incense Miz·bei′ akh; cf. Shәm·ot′ 30:1-3; 37:25-26; 27:1-2; 38:1-3; and note Unv. 8:3. This Miz·bei′ akh of Yәkhëz·qeil′ is to be square, its base approx. 10m (30 ft. 9") per side and, including the 20½ inch që·rën·ot′ at the corners, is to stand approx. 7m (20 ft. 6") high (Yәkhëz·qeil′ 40.48 & 43.13-17).
Animals to be sacrificed as burnt offerings were brought by the offerer to the slaughtering area beside the Miz·bei′ akh on the north. The offerer pressed his hand down forcefully upon the head of the animal, identifying with the animal to be utterly consumed, and signifying his own utter surrender to Ël·oh·im′ .
The offerer then slaughtered the animal according to kash·rut′ , washed the legs and inward parts, and handed it over to the Ko·han·im′ for them to arrange the pieces on the Miz·bei′ akh for burning (wa-Yiq·râ′ 1).
Like the incense (cf. Dәvâr·im′ 33:10 and note Unv. 8.3), "The consumption of the whole was meant as a ריח ניחח to/for/toward ha-Sheim. Only the hide was given to the Ko·hein′ (wa-Yiq·râ′ 7.8)."
The burnt offering was the only one of the qâr·bân·ot′ to be completely consumed by fire upon the Miz·bei′ akh, leaving only ashes. The burning of these qâr·bân·ot′ formed an enormous ball of ashes in the center of the Miz·bei′ akh called התפוח.
'The altar fire continued to burn even at night so that the portions of the qor·bân′ which it had not been possible to burn during the day would be consumed (bәrâkh·ot′ 1.1; Tamid 2.1)".
In preparation for Sha·khar·it′ , the Ko·han·im′ would rise before dawn and undergo ablution in order to participate in the lottery for the privilege of removing the ashes from the Miz·bei′ akh (Tam. 1:2; Yoma 1:8; 2:1). The Ko·han·im′ thusly selected, after ascending to the top of the Miz·bei′ akh, cleared away the ashes (Tam. 1:4) and shoveled them onto the ash heap down beside the Miz·bei′ akh.
The Ko·han·im′ then rearranged the remaining unconsumed limbs and pieces of fat on special large blocks of wood that were brought up to the Miz·bei′ akh for that purpose. The Miz·bei′ akh fire was then rekindled (Ency. Judaica).
The נפשות in this passage are being likened to the ashes of the burnt offerings in the kis·ei′ area, on the ash heap down beside the Miz·bei′ akh, not to be picked up until the remaining burnt offerings, still on the Miz·bei′ akh, have also been completely consumed. During the חגים, the ashes weren't removed, but remained there, because they were considered ornamental. Cf. note Unv. 8.3.
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