How far is east (the easternmost part of the world) from west?
Chagigah 12a, Tamid 32a: It is the same as from Shamayim to Eretz. If one of them were bigger, the Torah should write only the larger 1 !
Ibn Ezra, Radak: It is twice the height of Shamayim over Eretz. Tosfos Rid (Chagigah 12a) - it should be so, for Shamayim is a sphere, and the land is in the middle 2 . Why does the Gemara say differently?
Be'er Sheva (Tamid 32a): This is not a solid proof. Many verses write different Shi'urim for different matters, even though one is bigger than the other! Refer to 103:12:1:2*.
Mizrachi (Devarim 4:32): 'From one end of the Heaven to the other' means from the earth to one end of Heaven (e.g. east or west). Maharsha (Tamid 32a) - this is proven from Tamid 32a.
Why does it say east from west [and not from north to south]?
Radak: From east to west is totally inhabited, and people can go from east to west. One cannot go from north to south due to the great cold and heat.
Malbim: 'From east to west' refers to the sun's daily orbit around the earth. 'East from west' refers to its annual orbit on the Galgal, which is much greater. Early Chachamim said that the sun's own motion is from west to east, just the daily Galgal makes it go each day from east to west. Its own motion is heavy and slow; its daily motion is quick. So is the motion of man's Nefesh in Hashem's ways. Its own motion towards perfection and its happiness is very slothful, because the Yetzer's motion to force him towards follies of this world, which is unlike [the Nefesh's] nature, is very quick and powerful.
Why does it say that He distanced our sins?
Radak: This teaches the Gevurah of His Chesed. Even though we sinned greatly, He distanced them the greatest amount possible when we repented to Him.
Radak citing Shocher Tov: This teaches that one should not say 'Hashem should distance us from sin', rather, 'He should distance sin from us.'
Malbim: They are not from our own motivation, rather, [the Yetzer] forces us. This explains "Chanun" (verse 8).
