(13) On the east side eastward.--Rather, in front, towards the east. Both the tabernacle and the Temple faced to the east, which was regarded as "the front of the world" by the Orientals generally. The belief was probably connected with the sun's rising, towards which men in early times looked anxiously. It was, however, a belief quite separate from sun-worship.

Verse 13. - The breadth of the court on the east side eastward. Rather, "in front toward the east." The Rabbinical tradition was that Adam found himself on his creation fronting towards the east, and had consequently the south on his right, the north on his left, and the west behind him. Hence, they said, the four cardinal points received the names of kedem, "in front" (the east); yamin, "the right hand" (the south); akhor, "behind" (the west); and shemol, "the left hand" (the north). For this use of all four words, see Job 23:8, 9.

27:9-19 The tabernacle was enclosed in a court, about sixty yards long and thirty broad, formed by curtains hung upon brazen pillars, fixed in brazen sockets. Within this enclosure the priests and Levites offered the sacrifices, and thither the Jewish people were admitted. These distinctions represented the difference between the visible nominal church, and the true spiritual church, which alone has access to God, and communion with him.And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward,.... Which was the entrance into it:

shall be fifty cubits; the east end and west end were of the same measure.