Albert Barnes Commentary Ezekiel 40:31

"And the arches thereof were toward the outer court; and palm-trees were upon the posts thereof: and the ascent to it had eight steps." — Ezekiel 40:31 (ASV)

Utter court – Translate as "outward court" (Ezekiel 40:37; Ezekiel 42:1, 7, 14; Ezekiel 44:19; Ezekiel 46:20–21).

Arches toward the outward court – See the note on Ezekiel 40:14.

Eight steps – This was also the case for the east (Ezekiel 40:34) and north gates (Ezekiel 40:37). From the precincts to the outer court there were seven steps, and from the outer to the inner court eight steps, which together make up the number of the Psalms (Psalms 120–134) that some suppose were called Psalms of Degrees because they were sung by the choir of Levites on the steps (or degrees) of the temple courts. In later times, these Psalms were used as pilgrims’ songs by the Jews who went up from their homes in foreign countries to Jerusalem for the solemn feasts.