Why does the Torah refer to the fire on the Mizbe'ach as "Eish Tamid"?
Rashi: To indicate that the fire that is used to kindle the Menorah (which is called "Ner Tamid") 1 is taken from the Mizbe'ach ha'Olah.
See Sh'mos 27:20.
What are the implications of "Eish Tamid"?
Yerushalmi Yoma, 4:6: It implies that the Kohanim must make sure that the fire is burning constantly on the Mizbe'ach ? to light it if need be even be'Tum'ah snd even on Shabbos.
Having mentioned the Mizbe'ach above in Pasuk 4, why does the Torah repeat it here?
Yoma, 45b: To teach yus that the second Ma'arachah for the Ketores should be arranged on the Mizbe'ach ha'Olah.
Why does the Torah repeat "Lo Sichbeh" (See Pasuk 5)?
Rashi: To teach us that whoever extinguishes the fire on the Mizbe'ach transgresses two La'avin.
Zevachim 91b: To teach us that the prohibition extends even to extinguishing the fire in order to carry out the Mitzvah of Haramas ha'Deshen. 1
Yerushalmi Yoma, 4:6: To teach us that it is forbidden to extinguish the fire on the Mizbe'ach even when they traveled ? during which time they covered the firee with an overturned copper K'li. 2
On Shabbos we offer only two Temidim and two Musafim, which the fire will extinguish quickly! The Pasuk did not mention fire from Heaven!
Moshav Zekenim (in Pasuk 5): Just like the Ner Ma'aravi burned the entire day until the time of Shimon ha'Tzadik, miraculously, so the Ma'arachah burned the entire day. 1
Moshav Zekenim (in Pasuk 5, citing R. Yehudah ha'Chasid): "Lo Seva'aru Eish be'Chol Moshvoseichem", but you may kindle on the Mizbe'ach and in the Beis ha'Mokad even on Shabbos.
Why do we say that the Menorah is testimony to the world that the Shechinah dwells among Yisrael.(Shabbos 22b)? Only Kohanim may enter the Heichal and see it. Yisraelim may enter the Azarah and see the Mizbe'ach! The Menorah was every day, but the Mizbe'ach was only on Shabbos. Also, people might think that there are kinds of wood (perhaps after special treatment) that burn an entire day, but surely, based on nature, the Ner Ma'aravi should not burn longer than the others. (PF)
