English: It was taught, Rabbi Shimon says: From where that the kindling of the thin sticks may be only on the top of the altar? As it is stated, “And the sons of Aharon the kohen shall put fire on the altar.”
In the sugya: “On the altar” is a placement rule. The starter fire is kindled on the upper surface of the mizbe’ach, not beside it or below it.
Type of Learning
Miyut from “on the altar” — kindling on the top surface only.
What Is Learned
The starter fire for the ma’arachah is kindled on the altar’s upper surface, not below or aside. “On the altar” fixes that location for the alitah.