Note 6 at Mk. 10:37: Josephus states (Antiquities 6.11.9) that to sit at the right hand is the highest assigned position, and to sit at the left is the next highest position in a royal court.

A person of great authority who sat someone upon his right hand gave him equal honor with himself (Mk. 10:40). This term "right hand" is used in scripture for the highest place of honor for Solomon's mother (1 Ki. 2:19), queens (Ps. 45:9), for the exalted Son of God (Ps. 110:1; Mt. 26:64; Mk. 14:62; Lk. 22:69; Acts 2:33-34; 7:56; Rom. 8:34; Eph. 1:20; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3,13; 8:1; 10:12; 1 Pet. 3:22; Rev. 3:21), and of greatness in God's kingdom (Mt. 20:21).

In the Old Testament, the accepted practice of the laying on of hands seems to indicate that a greater blessing was transmitted through the right hand and the lesser through the left (Gen. 48:14,17,20).