Charles Ellicott Commentary Leviticus 24:7

"And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be to the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto Jehovah." — Leviticus 24:7 (ASV)

Shalt put pure frankincense upon each row. —Better, shalt place pure frankincense by each pile. As the two piles of six cakes each measured together ten handbreadths in width, and as the length of the table was twelve handbreadths, there was a vacant space of two handbreadths left on the table for the two bowls with frankincense.

The vacant place in question may, therefore, have been dealt with in one of three ways:

1. It could have been divided between the two ends of the table, and a bowl with incense placed at each end on either side of the two piles.
2. The disposable vacant space could have been left at only one end of the table, and the bowls put together on this end by one side of the two piles.
3. Each of the two piles of cakes could have been put more or less closely to the other end of the table, thus leaving a vacant space between the two piles, into which the two bowls with the frankincense were placed.

The last of these was the practice during the Second Temple.

That it may be on the bread for a memorial. —Better, that it may be for the bread as a memorial, that is, that the frankincense may be offered up on the altar, as God’s portion, instead of the bread which was given to the priests. By this means the prayers of the children of Israel will be brought into grateful remembrance before the Lord. (See Leviticus 2:2.)