And for the rear of the tabernacle is literally “and for the thighs of the mishkan.” “Thighs” were often used figuratively to refer to the extremities, in this case the far end, or “back” (Good News Translation). Westward is literally “toward the sea,” meaning the Mediterranean Sea, which is west of Palestine. You shall make six frames suggests that the width of the tabernacle were six times the width of each frame (1.5 cubits), or nine cubits. But the corner frames (verses 23-24) probably added one half cubit at each corner, thus making the total width ten cubits (about fifteen feet, or 4.6 meters). Another possible model is “Place six frames along the back wall on the west side.”

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .