Hebrew has two main words for “south.” The first, negev , refers to the south country of Israel (Exodus 12:9; 13:1, 3, 14; etc.). The other word, teyman , is related to the word yamin , “right hand,” and means “right” as well as “south.” When it means the latter, of course, it assumes someone facing east, so that the south is on the right.
In Exodus, “right” is the position of the lampstand (Exodus 26:18, 35; 27:9; 36:23; 38:9). It is also the placement of the standard of the tribe of Reuben (Numbers 2:10; 3:29). ( negev is used in Exodus 40:24).
The context indicates that the right-hand is Yahweh’s right hand, since in the tabernacle He is the only One facing East. The lampstand is the right hand of God, the lampstand that is the seven Spirits. Cherubically, the right hand/south is the direct of the man-face, so that the right-hand side of Yahweh’s throne is the man-face with seven burning eyes that are the seven Spirits of God.
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