Exodus 38:13
And for the east side eastward fifty cubits.
Original Language Analysis
וְלִפְאַ֛ת
side
H6285
וְלִפְאַ֛ת
side
Strong's:
H6285
Word #:
1 of 5
properly, mouth in a figurative sense, i.e., direction, region, extremity
קֵ֥דְמָה
And for the east
H6924
קֵ֥דְמָה
And for the east
Strong's:
H6924
Word #:
2 of 5
the front, of place (absolutely, the fore part, relatively the east) or time (antiquity); often used adverbially (before, anciently, eastward)
Historical Context
The eastern entrance faced the sunrise, requiring worshipers to enter with the sun at their backs—turning from sun to approach God's dwelling. This orientation contrasted sharply with Egyptian and Canaanite temples often oriented toward the sun. The deliberate eastward entrance demonstrated Israel's distinct worship of YHWH, not celestial bodies.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the eastward entrance (requiring turning from sunrise) teach about rejecting creation-worship for Creator-worship?
- How does the eastern orientation connect Eden's closed eastern entrance to the tabernacle's opened eastern access through sacrifice?
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Analysis & Commentary
The east side (פְּאַת קֵדְמָה מִזְרָחָה, pe'at kedmah mizrachah, 'east side toward the sunrise') at fifty cubits establishes the courtyard's entrance orientation. Facing east meant worshipers approached moving westward, away from the rising sun—a deliberate rejection of solar deity worship common in surrounding cultures. This orientation teaches that approaching God requires turning from created things to the Creator (Romans 1:25). The east entrance also recalls Eden's eastern entry (Genesis 3:24), now reopened through sacrificial system pointing to Christ.