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There is a disagreement as to how many fires were kept burning on the Altar every day. There is a braisa that lists three different opinions of the Tannaim in regards to the amount of “fires” that were on the altar on Yom Kippur. Each Tanna holds that there was one additional ma’arachah more than a regular day.
This was a special fire lit on Yom Kippur where the Kohen Gadol would take coals for the incense which was offered in the Kodesh Hakodashim (Holy of Holies).
The Gemara discusses the verses from which the requirement for the various Ma'arachos on the Mizbe'ach are derived, according to the different opinions (Rebbi Yehudah, Rebbi Yosi, and Rebbi Meir).
This leads us to the interpretation of the prooftext Lev 62:2
and a further metaphorical interpretation based on the hassidic demand to keep the fire of our spiritual path burning at all times:
Shem MiShmuel: We are not allowed to permit ourselves to “cool off” in our avodas Hashem. The commandment to keep the Altar’s fire burning highlights the individual’s duty to arouse an inner fervor every single day, and not to rely on the natural warmth that remained from before.