John Gill 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)

And the arches of it were toward the outward court
And so not within the gate of the inward court, but on the outside of it, towards the outward court, at the front of the gate as you went in: and palm trees were upon the posts of it ;
of the gate, or of these arches or porticos; signifying that none should enter here but righteous persons; this is the gate of the righteous, (Psalms 118:19Psalms 118:20) (Isaiah 26:2) , (See Gill on Ezekiel 40:16);

and the going up to it had eight steps ;
one more than the ascent to the outward gates; some say eight more, and make these to be fifteen, answerable to the fifteen steps by which the Levites went up from the court of the women to the court of Israel ^F14 , and sung upon them the fifteen songs of degrees, mentioned in the Psalms: but here are only eight; and denote the gradual progress of believers in faith and holiness; and that the nearer they come to the holy of holies, the greater their proficiency should be, and more advances made in the knowledge of divine things.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F14: Misna Succa, c. 5. sect. 4. Lipman. Tzurath Beth Hamikdash, sect. 24.