4,038. Liability for Burning Offerings

Hilchos Bias HaMikdash 9:4

One is liable for burning offerings as follows: if he burned the limbs, a handful of flour or frankincense on the altar – even if he only flipped limbs that had not yet been consumed, thereby expediting their burning – he is subject to a Divine death penalty so long as he burned an olive-sized volume. Similarly, if one burns incense on the golden altar, he becomes liable for burning an olive-sized amount. However, one who burns the Yom Kippur incense in the Holy of Holies isn’t liable unless he burns a handful. This is because that measure was set by the Torah.

Hilchos Bias HaMikdash 9:5

If a non-kohein arranges two logs on the altar’s woodpile, it’s as if he burned the limbs of offerings, rendering him subject to a Divine death penalty. This is because the wood is also considered an offering. However, if a non-kohein pours oil, mixes oil, breaks the wafers, salts an offering, waves an offering, brings near to the altar, arranges the showbread or the incense on the Shulchan, prepares the Menorah, lights the fire on the altar, takes the fistful (of flour or incense), or receives the blood, even though he invalidates the service, is warned against performing these deeds and is liable to the penalty of lashes, he is not subject to a Divine death penalty. Since all of these services are followed by other services, they do not constitute the completion of an offering.