Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

JERUSALEM, GATES

The construction, destruction, rebuilding and expansion of walls around Jerusalem during biblical times provided for numerous gates. Archaeological work has helped determine the placement of many of these ancient walls and gates; however, many questions still linger. Undoubtedly, some of the gates were known by more than one name, which adds to the confusion.

The construction of city walls with gates was undertaken by David (1 Chr. 11:7-8), Solomon (1 Kgs. 3:1), perhaps Uzziah (2 Chr. 26:9), Hezekiah (32:5), Manasseh (33:14), Nehemiah (Neh. 3:1–4:1), the Hasmoneans, and Herod.

Preexilic Period

Temple Gates

Evidently a gate connected the palace to the temple (2 Kgs. 11:19; 16:18). This entrance would have been to the south of the temple. References to the “gate behind the guards” and the Gate of the Foundation (2 Chr. 23:4-5; cf. the “gate of Shallecheth,” 1 Chr. 26:16) may indicate additional gates connecting the palace and the temple area, as implied in “the third gate” of Jer. 38:14. Mysteriously, 1 Chr. 9:18 mentions a “king’s gate on the east.” Ezekiel mentions a temple gate facing the north (Ezek. 8:14; 9:2), which may be the same as Jeremiah’s temple gate designated the upper Benjamin Gate (Jer. 20:2; 2 Kgs. 15:35) or the New Gate of Jer. 26:10; 36:10. The Horse Gate, which faced the east (Jer. 31:40), seems to be located in the southeast sector of the temple area near the palace (2 Kgs. 11:16). The Benjamin Gate and Horse Gate would have been city gates as well as temple gates.

City Gates

Nehemiah’s inspection of the destroyed city indicates that there was a Fountain Gate on the lower eastern wall (Neh. 2:14). In the southeast corner of the city, opening to the valley of Hinnom, was the Potsherd Gate (Jer. 19:2), later referred to as the Dung Gate (Neh. 2:13; 3:13-14; 12:31). The gate’s name may have been derived from a refuse heap located outside the gate in the Hinnom Valley. Also opening to the Hinnom was the Valley Gate, which is generally located in the southwest corner of the city walls. 2 Chr. 26:9 notes that Uzziah built a fortified tower at this gate. Further to the north at the northwest corner of the west wall, Uzziah built another fortified tower at the Corner Gate. According to 2 Chr. 25:23 Joash broke down the walls of Jerusalem from the Corner Gate to the Ephraim Gate for a distance of 400 cubits (200 m.[626 ft.]). Thus, the Ephraim Gate was probably in the northern wall, not far from the Corner Gate. This gate likely led to Ephraim and is probably to be identified with the “middle gate” of Jer. 39:3. The Fish Gate is difficult to place (2 Chr. 33:14); most scholars favor a location along the northern wall between the temple mount and the Ephraim Gate. This was likely a place where fish were sold or delivered.

Restoration Period

Not all of the walls of Jerusalem were broken down during the Exile. Excavations indicate that destruction was heaviest in the area of the temple and along the eastern wall. Consequently, Nehemiah’s rebuilding maintained many of the gates of the old city. However, along the east, excavations reveal that Nehemiah built higher along the ridge paralleling the Kidron Valley. In the process, it seems that additional gates were added to the east.

Along the eastern wall at the north, in the temple area, lay the Muster Gate (Neh. 3:31). Further to the south, but still in the temple area, were the Horse Gate (Neh. 3:28) and the Gate of the Guard (12:39), perhaps an interior gate leading to the temple area. Further down the ravine, Nehemiah mentions the Water Gate on the east (Neh. 3:26; 12:37), which may be equated with the East Gate (3:29). The last of the east wall gates, the Fountain Gate, evidently was rebuilt higher up the ridge (Neh. 3:15).

Nehemiah mentions nothing of the Benjamin Gate, formerly located in the temple area. However, he notes that priests constructed a Sheep Gate (Neh. 3:1), which was likely facing the north in the temple area and was probably a place for selling sheep which were used for sacrifice. It cannot be determined whether or not the Sheep Gate is the former Benjamin Gate.

Elsewhere around the city, preexilic gates seem to have been restored at their original sites during this period. Thus, Nehemiah records the rebuilding of the Dung Gate and the Valley Gate, which were located 1000 cubits (500 m.[1640 ft.]) from one another (Neh. 3:13-14). Also restored was the Fish Gate (Neh. 3:3). Nehemiah, however, does not record the repair of the Ephraim Gate or the Corner Gate, though it appears that both were recognized at this time (cf. Neh. 8:16; 12:39; Zech. 14:10). Another gate repaired in the days of Nehemiah, the Old Gate, is curiously unmentioned elsewhere in Scripture. This gate should be translated the Gate of the Old (area), or perhaps the Jeshanah Gate. Prevailing opinion is that the gate was an interior gate located in the northern area of the city near the Ephraim Gate.

New Testament Period

According to Josephus there were three walls surrounding Herodian Jerusalem, though on the sides facing the valleys only one wall encompassed the city (BJ 5.4.1). Josephus mentions few gates, though undoubtedly many more existed. The eastern, southern, and western sections of the first wall were probably in the same area as the walls in Nehemiah’s day. The northern section of this first wall extended from the tower of Hippicus (near the former Corner Gate) to the Xystus (the present-day Wilson’s Arch). The only gate mentioned by Josephus in this first wall, the Gate of the Essenes (BJ 5.4.2), was probably close to Nehemiah’s Valley Gate.

There is little agreement regarding the location of the second and third walls. Though generally known, the exact course of the second wall can only be approximated. Josephus states that it began at the Gennath Gate (E of the Hippicus Tower and perhaps identified with the Older Ephraim Gate) and circled in a northeastern direction, finally connecting with the Antonia.

The third wall was built by Herod Agrippa (BJ 5.4.2). In Josephus’ account, the third wall began at the tower of Hippicus and went north to the tower of Psephinus. The wall then turned east past the monuments of Helena, the caverns of the kings, the Corner Tower, the Fuller’s Monument, and connected to the older wall at the Kidron Valley. Some scholars believe that the northern wall was in general alignment with the north wall of the present Old City. Others, however, believe that the third wall lay further north and is to be identified with a wall discovered by E. L. Sukenik and L. A. Mayer in 1925-27.

In the area of the temple mount, Josephus mentions several gates: one on the north, four on the west, and unspecified “gates” to the south. He is silent about gates on the east. On the north was the Todi Gate. On the west, the southernmost gate, identified at the site of Robinson’s Arch, led to the lower city. Robinson’s Arch was one of several immense arches supporting a long staircase which descended to the valley. North of this gate, three additional western gates have been identified as Coponius Gate (popularly known as Barclay’s Gate), Wilson’s Arch, and Warren’s Gate. These three gates led to the western sections of the city. Wilson’s Arch supported a massive causeway that bridged the Central Valley, linking the temple area to the upper city.

On the south side of the temple complex two large gates were located in the middle of the wall. The first of these, the western Huldah Gate (the Double Gate), had two portals and a broad (64 m.[210 ft.]) stairway leading down to the lower city. The second gate, the eastern Huldah Gate (the Triple Gate), had three portals. Both of these southern gates are now walled up.

Josephus recounts 10 gates which serviced the temple itself. Four were located along the north, another four along the south, and two toward the east (BJ 5.5.2). The two eastern gates, one inside (or west) of the other, surrounded the Women’s Court on the east and west. The interior gate, leading to the Court of Israel, was probably known as the Nicanor Gate, while the easternmost gate, separating the Gentiles’ Court from the Women’s Court, may have been the Beautiful Gate mentioned in Acts 3:2. These identifications are not certain, and it is possible that the Beautiful Gate was the interior Nicanor Gate. Another option is that the Beautiful Gate, if Christian tradition is to be followed, may have been a gate on the eastern city wall leading to the temple area. Existing today on the eastern wall is the Golden Gate, which dates from the Byzantine period at the earliest. A recent discovery revealed another gate buried ca. 2-2.5 m.(7-8 ft.) directly beneath the Golden Gate. This newly discovered gate appears to date from pre-Herodian days and could be the Beautiful Gate.

Bibliography. W. H. Mare, The Archaeology of the Jerusalem Area (Grand Rapids, 1987); G. J. Wightman, The Walls of Jerusalem: From the Canaanites to the Mamluks (Sydney, 1993).

Mark R. Fairchild

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

JERUSALEM, GATES

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)