Reference: Gate
American
The gates of eastern walled towns were usually of wood, Jg 16:3, often covered with thick plates of iron or copper, Ps 107:16; Isa 45:2; Ac 12:10, secured by bolts and bars, De 3:5; 1Ki 4:13, and flanked by towers, 2Sa 18:24,33. A city was usually regarded as taken when its gates were won, De 28:52; Jg 5:8. Hence "gate" sometimes signifies power, dominion; almost in the same sense as the Turkish sultan's palace is called the Porte, or Gate. God promises Abraham that his posterity shall possess the gates of their enemies- their towns, their fortresses, Ge 22:17. So too, "the gates of hell," that is, the power of hell, or hell itself.
In oriental cities there was always an open space or place adjacent to each gate, and these were at the same time the market places, and the place of justice, Ge 23:10-18; Ru 4:1-12; De 16:18; 21:19; 25:6-7; Pr 22:22; Am 5:10,12,15. There, too, people assembled to spend their leisure hours, Ge 19:1. Hence "they that sit in the gate" is put for idlers, loungers, who are coupled with drunkards, Ps 69:12. The woes of a city were disclosed in the mourning or loneliness of these places of resort, Isa 14:31; Jer 14:2. Here too the public proclamations were made, and the messages of prophets delivered, Pr 1:21; 8:3; Isa 29:21; Jer 17:19; 26:10. Near the gate of a city, but without it, executions took place, 1Ki 21:13; Ac 7:58; Heb 13:12. To exalt the gate of a house through pride, increased one's exposure to robbery, Pr 17:19. To open it wide and high was significant of joy and welcome, as when the Savior ascended to heaven, Ps 24:7,9; and the open gates of the new Jerusalem in contrast with those of earthly cities carefully closed and guarded at nightfall, indicate the happy security of that world of light, Re 21:25.
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So the two messengers went in towards Sodom at eventide, Lot, being seated in the gate of Sodom, - so Lot beheld and rose up to meet them, and bowed himself with his face to the earth.
That I will, richly bless, thee, and, abundantly multiply, thy seed, as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is on the lip of the sea, - that thy seed may take possession of the gate of his foes:
Now, Ephron, was sitting in the midst of the sons of Heth, - so Ephron the Hittite responded to Abraham, in the ears of the sons of Heth, even all that were entering the gate of his city, saying: Nay, my lord, hear me, The field, have I given to thee And, the cave that is therein, to thee, have I given it, - In the eyes of the sons of my people, have I given it thee Bury thy dead. read more. So Abraham boweth himself down, before the people of the land: and spake unto Ephron in the ears of the people of the land saying, Only if, thou, wouldst, hear me, - I have given the silver of the field Take it of me, That I may bury my dead here. And Ephron responded to Abraham, saying to him, My lord, hear me, - Land worth four hundred shekels of silver - betwixt me and thee, what is that? And thy dead., bur. thou. And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron, and Abraham weighed out to Ephron the silver of which he had spoken in the ears of the sons of Heth, - four hundred shekels of silver, current with the merchant, So was con-firmed the field of Ephron, which is in Machpelah, which is before Mamre, - the field and the cave which is therein, and all the timber which was in the field, which was in all the boundary thereof round about, to Abraham as a purchase in the eyes of the sons of Heth, - with all who were entering the gate of his city.
All these, were fortified cities each with a high wall, folding gates and a bar, - besides country towns exceeding many.
Judges and officers, shalt thou appoint thee in all thy gates, which Yahweh thy God is giving unto thee, by thy tribes, - and they shall judge the people, with righteous judgment,
then shall his father and his mother, lay hold of him, - and bring him forth unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
And it shall be, that, the firstborn which she beareth, shall succeed in the name of his brother who is dead, - so shall his name not be wiped out from Israel. But, if the man like not to take his sister-in-law, then shall his sister-in-law go up unto the gate, unto the elders, and say - My husband's brother hath refused, to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he is not willing to do as a husband's brother unto me.
And he shall lay siege to thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fortified walls come down wherein thou wast trusting, in all thy land, - yea he will lay siege to thee in all thy gates, in all thy land which Yahweh thy God, hath given, unto thee.
They chose gods that were new, Then, - war at the gates! Was there, a shield, to be seen? or a spear? among forty thousand in Israel?
And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city, and of the two doorposts, and tare them away, with the bar, and put them on his shoulders, - and carried them up to the top of the hill that faceth Hebron.
Now, Boaz, went up to the gate, and sat him down there, and lo! the kinsman, passing by, of whom Boaz had spoken, so he said - Turn aside! and sit down here, such a one! And he turned aside, and sat down. Then fetched he ten men of the elders of the city, and said - Sit ye down here. And they sat down. read more. Then said he to the kinsman, The parcel of land that was our brother Elimelech's, is to be disposed of by Naomi, who hath returned out of the country of Moab; and, I, thought, I would unveil thine ear, saying - Take it over in presence of such as are here seated, and in presence of the elders of my people. If thou wilt act as kinsman, act as kinsman, but, if thou wilt not so act, only tell me - that I may know, for there is none who can set thee aside as kinsman, but, I, am after thee. And he said, I, will act as kinsman. Then said Boaz, What day thou takest over the land from the hand of Naomi, also, of Ruth the Moabitess, wife of the dead, dost thou take it , to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. Then said the kinsman - I cannot act as kinsman for myself, lest I mar my own inheritance, - do, thou, for thyself act as kinsman in my right, for I cannot so redeem. Now, this aforetime, was the way in Israel, at a redeeming, and at an exchanging, to confirm every word: A man drew off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour, - yea, this, was the way of taking to witness, in Israel. So the kinsman said unto Boaz, Take it over for thyself, - and he drew off his shoe. Then said Boaz to the elders, and all the people - Witnesses, are ye to-day, that I have taken over all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's, and Mahlon's, - from the hand of Naomi: Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, wife of Mahlon, have I taken over, to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off - from among his brethren, and from the gate of his dwelling- place, - Witnesses, are ye to-day! Then said all the people who were in the gate, and the elders - Witnesses!, - Yahweh grant the woman who is coming into thy house, to be as Rachel, and as Leah, which two of them did build the house of Israel. Do thou bravely, then, in Ephrathah, and proclaim thou a name in Bethlehem, And let thy house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bare to Judah, - of the seed which - may Yahweh give thee, of this young woman.
Now, David, was sitting between the two gates, - and the watchman went on to the top of the gate-house, upon the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and lo! a man, running alone.
Then was the king deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept, - and, thus, he said as he went - O my son Absolom, my son - my son - Absolom! could, I, but have died in thy stead, O Absolom, my son - my son!
Then came in the two reckless men, and sat before him, and the men bare witness against him, even against Naboth, before the people, saying, Naboth hath reviled God and king! So they carried him forth, outside the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.
Lift up, O ye gates, your heads, and lift yourselves up, ye age-abiding doors, That the king of glory may come in.
Lift up, O ye gates, your heads, yea lift them up, ye age-abiding doors, That the king of glory may come in.
They who sit in the gate talk against me, - And against me are the songs of them who imbibe strong drink.
For he brake in pieces the doors of bronze, And, the bars of iron, he hewed asunder.
At the head of bustling streets, she crieth aloud, - at the openings of the gates in the city - her sayings, she doth utter: -
Beside the gates, at the entrance of the city, - at the going in of the openings, she shouteth: -
A lover of transgression, is one who loveth strife, he that heighteneth his door, seeketh grievous harm.
Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, neither crush thou the oppressed in the gate;
Howl - O gate, Make outcry - O city, Dispersed art thou Philistia, all of thee, - For out of the north, a smoke cometh in, With no straggler in his ranks.
Who bring a man into condemnation with a rumour, And for him that decideth in the gate, lay a snare, - And have driven away, for a thing of nought, one who was righteous.
I, before thee, will go, And the hills, will I level - The doors of bronze, will I break in pieces, e And the bars of iron, will I cut asunder;
Judah mourneth, And the gates thereof, pine They lie in gloom on the ground, - And the outcry Jerusalem, hath ascended;
Thus, said Yahweh unto me - Go and stand in the gate of the sons of the people, through which the kings of Judah enter in, and through which they come out, - also in all the gates of Jerusalem.
When the princes of Judah heard these things, then came they up out of the house of the king, unto the house of Yahweh, - and took their seats in the opening of the new gate of Yahweh.
They hate the man who, in the gate, rebuketh, - and, him who speaketh truthfully, they abhor.
For I know how numerous are your transgressions, and how surpassing your sins, - ye adversaries of the righteous! ye acceptors of a bribe! Even the needy in the gate, have they turned away!
Hate wrong, and love right, and station, Justice, in the gate, - Peradventure, Yahweh, God of hosts, will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
And, thrusting him forth outside the city, proceeded to stone him. And, the witnesses, laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
And, passing through the first ward and the second, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city, the which, of its own accord, opened unto them; and, coming out, they went on through one street, and, straightway, the messenger was parted from him.
Wherefore, Jesus also, that he might hallow the people through means of his own blood, outside the gate, suffered:
and, the gates thereof, shall in nowise be shut, by day, - night, in fact, shall not be there, -
Easton
(1.) Of cities, as of Jerusalem (Jer 37:13; Ne 1:3; 2:3; 3:3), of Sodom (Ge 19:1), of Gaza (Jg 16:3).
(2.) Of royal palaces (Ne 2:8).
(3.) Of the temple of Solomon (1Ki 6:34-35; 2Ki 18:16); of the holy place (1Ki 6:31-32; Eze 41:23-24); of the outer courts of the temple, the beautiful gate (Ac 3:2).
(4.) Tombs (Mt 27:60).
(5.) Prisons (Ac 12:10; 16:27).
(6.) Caverns (1Ki 19:13).
(7.) Camps (Ex 32:26-27; Heb 13:12).
The materials of which gates were made were,
(1.) Iron and brass (Ps 107:16; Isa 45:2; Ac 12:10).
(2.) Stones and pearls (Isa 54:12; Re 21:21).
(3.) Wood (Jg 16:3) probably.
At the gates of cities courts of justice were frequently held, and hence "judges of the gate" are spoken of (De 16:18; 17:8; 21:19; 25:6-7, etc.). At the gates prophets also frequently delivered their messages (Pr 1:21; 8:3; Isa 29:21; Jer 17:19-20; 26:10). Criminals were punished without the gates (1Ki 21:13; Ac 7:59). By the "gates of righteousness" we are probably to understand those of the temple (Ps 118:19). "The gates of hell" (R.V., "gates of Hades") Mt 16:18, are generally interpreted as meaning the power of Satan, but probably they may mean the power of death, denoting that the Church of Christ shall never die.
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So the two messengers went in towards Sodom at eventide, Lot, being seated in the gate of Sodom, - so Lot beheld and rose up to meet them, and bowed himself with his face to the earth.
So Moses took his stand in the gate of the camp, and said - Who is for Yahweh? -- To me! Then gathered unto him all the sons of Levi, And he said to them - Thus, saith Yahweh, God of Israel, Put ye every man his sword upon his thigh, - pass through and return from gate to gate in the camp, and slay ye every man his brother and every man his friend and every man his neighbour.
Judges and officers, shalt thou appoint thee in all thy gates, which Yahweh thy God is giving unto thee, by thy tribes, - and they shall judge the people, with righteous judgment,
When any matter of judgment, shall be too difficult for thee - between blood and blood between plea and plea or between stroke and stroke, matters of contention within thy gates, then shalt thou arise and go up unto the place which Yahweh thy God shall choose;
then shall his father and his mother, lay hold of him, - and bring him forth unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
And it shall be, that, the firstborn which she beareth, shall succeed in the name of his brother who is dead, - so shall his name not be wiped out from Israel. But, if the man like not to take his sister-in-law, then shall his sister-in-law go up unto the gate, unto the elders, and say - My husband's brother hath refused, to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he is not willing to do as a husband's brother unto me.
And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city, and of the two doorposts, and tare them away, with the bar, and put them on his shoulders, - and carried them up to the top of the hill that faceth Hebron.
And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city, and of the two doorposts, and tare them away, with the bar, and put them on his shoulders, - and carried them up to the top of the hill that faceth Hebron.
And, the entrance of the shrine, made he with doors, of wild olive-wood, the pillars and posts being a fifth. The two doors, also were of olive-wood, and he carved upon them carvings of cherubim, and palm-trees, and festoons of flowers, and overlaid them with gold, - yea he spread out, over the cherubim and over the palm-trees, the gold.
And, the two doors, were of fir wood, - the two leaves of the one door, were folding, and, the two leaves of the other door, were folding. And he carved cherubim, and palm-trees, and festoons of flowers, and overlaid them with gold, smoothed out on the carved work.
And it came to pass, when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went forth, and stood at the entrance of the cave, - and lo! unto him, a voice; and it said - What doest thou here, Elijah?
Then came in the two reckless men, and sat before him, and the men bare witness against him, even against Naboth, before the people, saying, Naboth hath reviled God and king! So they carried him forth, outside the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.
And they said unto me, The remnant who are left of the captivity, there in the province, are in great misfortune and reproach, the wall of Jerusalem, is broken down, and, the gates thereof, are burned with fire.
and said unto the king - Let the, king, unto times age-abiding, live! Wherefore should my countenance, not be sad, when, the city - the place of the sepulchres of my fathers, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
also a letter unto Asaph, keeper of the park that belongeth unto the king, that he may give me timber to build up the gates of the fortress which pertaineth to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house whereinto I shall enter. And the king gave me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.
And, the fish-gate, did the sons of Hassenaah build, - they, laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof;
For he brake in pieces the doors of bronze, And, the bars of iron, he hewed asunder.
Open to me the gates of righteousness, I will enter therein, I will give thanks unto Yah.
At the head of bustling streets, she crieth aloud, - at the openings of the gates in the city - her sayings, she doth utter: -
Beside the gates, at the entrance of the city, - at the going in of the openings, she shouteth: -
Who bring a man into condemnation with a rumour, And for him that decideth in the gate, lay a snare, - And have driven away, for a thing of nought, one who was righteous.
I, before thee, will go, And the hills, will I level - The doors of bronze, will I break in pieces, e And the bars of iron, will I cut asunder;
And make rubies, thy battlements, And thy gates, sparkling stones, -
Thus, said Yahweh unto me - Go and stand in the gate of the sons of the people, through which the kings of Judah enter in, and through which they come out, - also in all the gates of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou say unto them - Hear ye the word of Yahweh Ye kings of Judah and all Judah, And all ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, - who enter in through these gates:
When the princes of Judah heard these things, then came they up out of the house of the king, unto the house of Yahweh, - and took their seats in the opening of the new gate of Yahweh.
And so it came to pass he being in the gate of Benjamin and there being there a ward-master whose name was Irijah son of Shelemiah son of Hananiah, that he seized Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Unto the Chaldeans, art thou falling away!
And there were two doors, to the temple, and to the holy place; and two leaves to the doors, - two folding leaves, two to the one door and two to the other door.
And, I also, unto thee, say - Thou, art Peter, - and, upon this rock, will I build my assembly, and, the gates of hades, shall not prevail against it.
and laid it in his new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock, and, rolling near a large stone unto the door of the tomb, departed.
And, a certain man, who had been, lame from his mother's womb, was being carried, - whom they used to lay daily at the door of the temple - the door called Beautiful, that he might ask alms of them who were entering into the temple:
And they stoned Stephen, as he was invoking and saying - Lord Jesus! give welcome unto my spirit.
And, passing through the first ward and the second, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city, the which, of its own accord, opened unto them; and, coming out, they went on through one street, and, straightway, the messenger was parted from him.
And, passing through the first ward and the second, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city, the which, of its own accord, opened unto them; and, coming out, they went on through one street, and, straightway, the messenger was parted from him.
And, the prison-keeper, being wakened and seeing that the doors of the prison had been opened, drawing his sword, was about to kill himself, supposing the prisoners to have fled.
Wherefore, Jesus also, that he might hallow the people through means of his own blood, outside the gate, suffered:
and, the twelve gates, were twelve pearls, - each one of the gates, severally, was of one pearl; and, the broadway of the city, was pure gold, as transparent glass.
Fausets
The oriental resort for business, converse, bargaining, and news (Ge 19:1; 23:10; Ps 69:12), for addresses and reading the law (2Ch 32:6; Ne 8:1,3; Pr 1:21; Jer 17:19), or administering justice (Jos 20:4; Ru 4:1; De 16:18; 21:19). Pr 22:22, "neither oppress the afflicted in the gate," i.e. in the place of justice, in lawsuits. Ps 69:12, "they that sit in the gate speak against Me (Messiah), and I was the song of the drunkards," i.e., not only among drunken revelers, but in the grave deliberations of the judges in the place of justice I was an object of obloquy. Am 5:12, "they turn aside the poor in the gate," i.e. they refuse them their right in the place of justice; (Am 5:10) "they hate him that rebuketh in the gate," namely, the judge who condemns them (Zec 8:16).
Isa 29:21, "they lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate," i.e., they try by bribes and misrepresentations to ensnare into a false decision the judge who would in public court reprove them for their iniquity, or to ensnare the prophet who publicly reproves them (Jer 7:2). "The Sublime Porte," the title for the Sultan of Turkey, is derived from the eastern usage of dispensing law in the gateway. The king's or chief's place of audience (1Ki 22:10; 2Sa 19:8; Job 29:7; La 5:14). The object of a foe's attack and therefore strengthened especially (Jg 5:8; Ps 147:18), shut at nightfall (De 3:5; Jos 2:5,7; 1Sa 23:7). The market place for country produce (2Ki 7:1; Ne 13:16-19). The open spaces near the gates were used for pagan sacrifices (Ac 14:13; 2Ki 23:8).
Josiah defiled "the high places of the gates in the entering in of the gate." The larger gates had two valves, and were plated with metal and secured with locks and bars. Those without iron plating were easily set on fire (Jg 9:52). Sentences of the law were inscribed on and above them, to which allusion occurs De 6:9; an usage followed by Muslims in modern times. Some gates were of solid stones (Re 21:21; Isa 54:12). Massive stone doors are found in ancient houses of Syria, single slabs, several inches thick, 10 ft. high, turning on stone pivots above and below. The king's principal gate at Ispahan afforded sanctuary to criminals (Chardin, 7:368). In Esther's time "none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth" (Es 4:2). "The Beautiful Gate" of Herod's temple (Ac 3:2) was the outer one, made of Corinthian brass, surpassing in costliness even nine others of the outer court, which were covered with gold and silver.
It was so heavy that twenty men were required to close it, but it was found open unexpectedly shortly before the overthrow of Jerusalem (Josephus, B. J., 5:5, sec. 3; 6: 5, sec. 3; contra Apion, 2:9). The doorway consisted of lintel, threshold, and side-posts (Ex 12:7,22). In Ge 22:17, "thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies," the sense is, shall sit in judgment on them, as in the Assyrian sculptures the king is represented sitting in judgment upon prisoners. Thus the Persian satrap in the Lycian Xanthus monument sits at the gate dictating terms to the Greek ambassadors, and Sennacherib, at his tent door, gives judgment on the Jews taken at Lachish (British Museum, 59). In front of the larger edifices in the remains at Persepolis and Nineveh (Khorsabad) are propylaea, or "porches," like that "for Solomon's throne where he might judge, even the porch of judgment, covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other" (1Ki 7:7).
The threshold in the Assyrian palaces is one slab of gypsum with cuneatic inscriptions; human-headed bulls with eagles' wings guard the portals, like and probably borrowed from the cherubim which guarded the gate of Eden; besides there are holes 12 in. square, lined round with tiles, with a brick to cover them above and containing small baked clay idols with lynx head and human body, or human head and lion's body, probably like the teraphim, from Arabic tarf "a boundary," and akin to the Persian "telifin" talismans. (See TERAPHIM.) Thus the place of going out and coming in was guarded, as especially sacred, from all evil by the inscriptions, the compound figured gods outside, and the hidden teraphim. Daniel "sat in" such a "gate" before the palace of Babylon as "ruler over the whole province of Babylon" (Da 2:48-49) The courtiers of Ahasuerus attended him "in the gate" similarly (Es 3:2).
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So the two messengers went in towards Sodom at eventide, Lot, being seated in the gate of Sodom, - so Lot beheld and rose up to meet them, and bowed himself with his face to the earth.
That I will, richly bless, thee, and, abundantly multiply, thy seed, as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is on the lip of the sea, - that thy seed may take possession of the gate of his foes:
Now, Ephron, was sitting in the midst of the sons of Heth, - so Ephron the Hittite responded to Abraham, in the ears of the sons of Heth, even all that were entering the gate of his city, saying:
And they shall take of the blood, and put upon the two door-posts and upon the upper-beam, - upon the houses wherein they are to eat it.
Then shall ye take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and strike the upper beam and the two door-posts, with the blood which is in the basin, - and, ye, shall not go forth any man out of the entrance of his house, until morning,
All these, were fortified cities each with a high wall, folding gates and a bar, - besides country towns exceeding many.
and thou shalt write them upon the pests of thy house and within thy gates.
Judges and officers, shalt thou appoint thee in all thy gates, which Yahweh thy God is giving unto thee, by thy tribes, - and they shall judge the people, with righteous judgment,
then shall his father and his mother, lay hold of him, - and bring him forth unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
and it came to pass, as the gate was about to be shut in the darkness, that, the men, went out, I know not whither the men went, - pursue them quickly for ye shall overtake them.
So, the men, pursued them by way of the Jordan unto the fords, - the gate being shut as soon as they who pursued them had gone forth.
and he shall flee unto one of these cities and present himself at the entrance of the gate of the city, and shall speak, in the ears of the elders of that city, his defence, - and they shall take him for protection into the city unto them, and shall give him a place, so shall he dwell with them.
They chose gods that were new, Then, - war at the gates! Was there, a shield, to be seen? or a spear? among forty thousand in Israel?
And Abimelech came in as far as the tower, and fought against it, - and so came near, as far as the entrance of the tower, to burn it with fire.
Now, Boaz, went up to the gate, and sat him down there, and lo! the kinsman, passing by, of whom Boaz had spoken, so he said - Turn aside! and sit down here, such a one! And he turned aside, and sat down.
And, a porch for the throne, where he should judge, even the porch of judgment, made he, and it was wainscotted with cedar, from floor to ceiling.
Now, the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat king of Judah, were sitting - each man upon his throne, having put on robes, in a level place, at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, - and, all the prophets, were being moved to prophesy before them;
Then said Elisha - Hear ye the word of Yahweh, - Thus, saith Yahweh - About this time to-morrow, a measure of fine meal for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
and set captains of war over the people, - and gathered them together unto him in the broadway of the gate of the city, and spake unto their heart, saying, -
Then all the people gathered themselves together as one man, into the broad way that was before the water-gate, - and they spake unto Ezra the scribe, to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Yahweh had commanded Israel.
and read therein, before the broad place which was before the water-gate, from the time it was light, until the noon of the day, in presence of the men and the women, and such as had understanding, - and, the ears of all the people, were unto the book of the law.
And, men of Tyre, dwelt therein, who were bringing in fish - and every kind of ware for sale, - and were selling, on the sabbath, to the sons of Judah, and in Jerusalem; so I contended with the nobles of Judah, - and said unto them, What is this wicked thing which, ye, are doing, and profaning the sabbath day? read more. Was it not, thus, your fathers did, and our God brought upon us all this calamity, and upon this city? - and, ye, would add indignation against Israel, by profaning the sabbath! And it came to pass, when the gates of Jerusalem made a shadow before the sabbath, then gave I word, and they shut the doors, and I gave word, that they should not open them, until after the sabbath, - and, some of my young men, set I near the gates, so that no burden should be brought in, on the sabbath day.
And, all the kings servants who were in the kings gate, used to bend and bow themselves down unto Haman, for, so, had the king given command concerning him, - but, Mordecai, bent not nor bowed himself down.
and went in as far as before the gate of the king, - for, none, might enter into the gate of the king, clothed with sackcloth.
When I went out to the gate unto the city, in the open place, made ready my seat,
They who sit in the gate talk against me, - And against me are the songs of them who imbibe strong drink.
They who sit in the gate talk against me, - And against me are the songs of them who imbibe strong drink.
He sendeth forth his word and melteth them, He causeth his wind to blow, the waters, stream along:
At the head of bustling streets, she crieth aloud, - at the openings of the gates in the city - her sayings, she doth utter: -
Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, neither crush thou the oppressed in the gate;
Who bring a man into condemnation with a rumour, And for him that decideth in the gate, lay a snare, - And have driven away, for a thing of nought, one who was righteous.
And make rubies, thy battlements, And thy gates, sparkling stones, -
Stand thou in the gate of the house of Yahweh, and thou shalt proclaim there this word, - and shalt say - Hear ye the word of Yahweh all Judah ye who are entering in at these gates, to bow down unto Yahweh:
Thus, said Yahweh unto me - Go and stand in the gate of the sons of the people, through which the kings of Judah enter in, and through which they come out, - also in all the gates of Jerusalem.
Elders, from the gates, have ceased. Young men, from their music.
Then, the king, exalted, Daniel, and, many large presents, gave he unto him, and set him to be ruler over all the province of Babylon, - and chief of the nobles, over all the wise men of Babylon. And, Daniel, desired of the king, and he appointed - over the business of the province of Babylon - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, - but, Daniel himself, was in the gate of the king.
They hate the man who, in the gate, rebuketh, - and, him who speaketh truthfully, they abhor.
For I know how numerous are your transgressions, and how surpassing your sins, - ye adversaries of the righteous! ye acceptors of a bribe! Even the needy in the gate, have they turned away!
These, are the things which ye shall do: Speak ye the truth, every man with his neighbour, truth and the sentence of peace, pronounce ye in your gates;
And, a certain man, who had been, lame from his mother's womb, was being carried, - whom they used to lay daily at the door of the temple - the door called Beautiful, that he might ask alms of them who were entering into the temple:
Also, the priest of the Jupiter that was before the city, bringing bulls and garlands unto the gates, with the multitudes, would have offered sacrifice.
and, the twelve gates, were twelve pearls, - each one of the gates, severally, was of one pearl; and, the broadway of the city, was pure gold, as transparent glass.
Hastings
Morish
Beside the ordinary use of gates for the protection of a city, 'in the gate' was the place where many important things were transacted. When Boaz wanted the question settled respecting Ruth and the inheritance, he went up to the gate: the subject was debated with a nearer relative, then concluded, and witnessed by the elders. Ru 4:1-12; cf. Jos 20:4; 1Sa 4:18; 2Sa 15:2; Ac 14:13. To 'sit in the gate' was a place of honour: "they that sit in the gate speak against me." Ps 69:12. It should have been the place of true judgement and justice, but was not always so. Isa 29:21; Am 5:10,12; Zec 8:16. It was, at least at times, the king's chief place of audience. 2Sa 19:8; 1Ki 22:10; Job 29:7; La 5:14. From this it would be a symbol of power: thus the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church which Christ builds. Mt 16:18.
The gates of cities were of wood cased with iron to strengthen them and prevent them being burnt with fire. cf. Jg 9:52. The prison at Jerusalem had an outer gate of iron, the only iron one we read of. Ac 12:10.
Doubtless the gates of Solomon's temple were adorned to agree with the rest of the work. In the N.T. we read of THE BEAUTIFUL GATE of the temple, Ac 3:10; and Josephus relates that Herod made an outer gate of Corinthian brass, costing more than those adorned with gold and silver. The gates of the New Jerusalem are described as pearls: "every several gate was of one pearl," Re 21:12-25: the entrances must be in keeping with the rest of the city. The pearls represent the glories of Christ as seen in the church: cf. Mt 13:46.
The gate is used symbolically as the entrance both to life and to destruction: the former is narrow and the way straitened, and alas, there are but few that find it; whereas for the latter the gate is wide and the way is broad, and many there are that enter through it. Mt 7:13-14.
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and he shall flee unto one of these cities and present himself at the entrance of the gate of the city, and shall speak, in the ears of the elders of that city, his defence, - and they shall take him for protection into the city unto them, and shall give him a place, so shall he dwell with them.
And Abimelech came in as far as the tower, and fought against it, - and so came near, as far as the entrance of the tower, to burn it with fire.
Now, Boaz, went up to the gate, and sat him down there, and lo! the kinsman, passing by, of whom Boaz had spoken, so he said - Turn aside! and sit down here, such a one! And he turned aside, and sat down. Then fetched he ten men of the elders of the city, and said - Sit ye down here. And they sat down. read more. Then said he to the kinsman, The parcel of land that was our brother Elimelech's, is to be disposed of by Naomi, who hath returned out of the country of Moab; and, I, thought, I would unveil thine ear, saying - Take it over in presence of such as are here seated, and in presence of the elders of my people. If thou wilt act as kinsman, act as kinsman, but, if thou wilt not so act, only tell me - that I may know, for there is none who can set thee aside as kinsman, but, I, am after thee. And he said, I, will act as kinsman. Then said Boaz, What day thou takest over the land from the hand of Naomi, also, of Ruth the Moabitess, wife of the dead, dost thou take it , to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. Then said the kinsman - I cannot act as kinsman for myself, lest I mar my own inheritance, - do, thou, for thyself act as kinsman in my right, for I cannot so redeem. Now, this aforetime, was the way in Israel, at a redeeming, and at an exchanging, to confirm every word: A man drew off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour, - yea, this, was the way of taking to witness, in Israel. So the kinsman said unto Boaz, Take it over for thyself, - and he drew off his shoe. Then said Boaz to the elders, and all the people - Witnesses, are ye to-day, that I have taken over all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's, and Mahlon's, - from the hand of Naomi: Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, wife of Mahlon, have I taken over, to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off - from among his brethren, and from the gate of his dwelling- place, - Witnesses, are ye to-day! Then said all the people who were in the gate, and the elders - Witnesses!, - Yahweh grant the woman who is coming into thy house, to be as Rachel, and as Leah, which two of them did build the house of Israel. Do thou bravely, then, in Ephrathah, and proclaim thou a name in Bethlehem, And let thy house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bare to Judah, - of the seed which - may Yahweh give thee, of this young woman.
So the king arose, and took his seat in the gate, - and, to all the people, was it told, saying - Lo! the king, is sitting in the gate. Then came all the people before the king, but, Israel, had fled every man to his home.
When I went out to the gate unto the city, in the open place, made ready my seat,
They who sit in the gate talk against me, - And against me are the songs of them who imbibe strong drink.
Who bring a man into condemnation with a rumour, And for him that decideth in the gate, lay a snare, - And have driven away, for a thing of nought, one who was righteous.
Elders, from the gates, have ceased. Young men, from their music.
They hate the man who, in the gate, rebuketh, - and, him who speaketh truthfully, they abhor.
For I know how numerous are your transgressions, and how surpassing your sins, - ye adversaries of the righteous! ye acceptors of a bribe! Even the needy in the gate, have they turned away!
These, are the things which ye shall do: Speak ye the truth, every man with his neighbour, truth and the sentence of peace, pronounce ye in your gates;
Enter ye in at, the narrow gate; because broad and roomy is the way that leadeth unto destruction, - and, many, are they who enter thereby: Because, narrow, is the gate, and, confined, the way, that leadeth unto life, - and, few, are they who find, it.
and, finding one very precious pearl, departing, he at once sold all things, whatsoever he had, and bought it.
And, I also, unto thee, say - Thou, art Peter, - and, upon this rock, will I build my assembly, and, the gates of hades, shall not prevail against it.
And they began to recognise him, that, the same, was he who, for the alms, used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; - and they were filled with amazement and transport at what had happened unto him.
And, passing through the first ward and the second, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city, the which, of its own accord, opened unto them; and, coming out, they went on through one street, and, straightway, the messenger was parted from him.
Also, the priest of the Jupiter that was before the city, bringing bulls and garlands unto the gates, with the multitudes, would have offered sacrifice.
having a wall great and high, having twelve gates, and, at the gates, twelve messengers, and names inscribed, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel, - on the east, three gates, and, on the north, three gates, and, on the south, three gates, and, on the west, three gates; read more. and, the wall of the city, having twelve foundations, and, upon them, twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And, he that was talking with me, had, for a measure, a reed of gold, that he might measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And, the city, four-square, lieth, and, the length thereof, is as great as the breadth. And he measured the city, with the reed, - twelve thousand furlongs: the length, and the breadth, and the height thereof, are, equal. And he measured the wall thereof, - a hundred and forty-four cubits: the measure of a man, which is the measure of a messenger. And, the structure of the wall thereof, was jasper, and, the city, was pure gold, like unto pure glass. The foundations of the wall of the city, with every precious stone were adorned: the first foundation, was jasper, the second, sapphire, the third, chalcedony, the fourth, emerald, the fifth, sardonyx, the sixth, sardius, the seventh, chrysolite, the eighth, beryl, the ninth, topaz, the tenth, chrysoprase, the eleventh, hyacinth, the twelfth, amethyst; and, the twelve gates, were twelve pearls, - each one of the gates, severally, was of one pearl; and, the broadway of the city, was pure gold, as transparent glass. And, sanctuary, saw I none therein; for, the Lord, God, the Almighty, is the sanctuary thereof, and the Lamb. And, the city, hath no need of the sun, nor of the moon, that they should shine therein; for, the glory of God, illumined it, and, the lamp thereof, was the Lamb. And the nations, shall walk, through her light; and, the kings of the earth, do bring their glory into it, and, the gates thereof, shall in nowise be shut, by day, - night, in fact, shall not be there, -
Smith
Gate.
The gate and gateways of eastern cities anciently held and still hold an important part, not only in the defence but in the public economy of the place. They are thus sometimes taken as representing the city itself.
Ge 22:17; 24:60; De 12:12; Jg 5:8; Ru 4:10; Ps 87:2; 122:2
Among the special purposes for which they were used may be mentioned.
1. As places of public resort.
Ge 19:1; 23:10; 34:20,24; 1Sa 4:18
etc.
2. Places for public deliberation, administration of Justice, or of audience for kings and rulers or ambassadors.
De 16:18; 21:19; 25:7; Jos 20:4; Jg 9:35
etc.
3. Public markets.
In heathen towns the open spaces near the gates appear to have been sometimes used as places for sacrifice.
comp 2Kin 23:8 Regarded therefore as positions of great importance, the gates of cities were carefully guarded, and closed at nightfall.
They contained chambers over the gateway.
The doors themselves of the larger gates mentioned in Scripture were two leaved, plated with metal, closed with locks and fastened with metal bars.
De 3:6; Ps 107:16; Isa 46:1-2
Gates not defended by iron were of course liable to be set on fire by an enemy.
The gateways of royal palaces and even of private houses were often richly ornamented. Sentences from the law were inscribed on and above the gates.
The gates of Solomon's temple were very massive and costly, being overlaid with gold and carving.
Those of the holy place were of olive wood, two-leaved and overlaid with gold; those of the temple of fir.
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So the two messengers went in towards Sodom at eventide, Lot, being seated in the gate of Sodom, - so Lot beheld and rose up to meet them, and bowed himself with his face to the earth.
That I will, richly bless, thee, and, abundantly multiply, thy seed, as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is on the lip of the sea, - that thy seed may take possession of the gate of his foes:
Now, Ephron, was sitting in the midst of the sons of Heth, - so Ephron the Hittite responded to Abraham, in the ears of the sons of Heth, even all that were entering the gate of his city, saying:
And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, Our sister! become thou, thousands of ten thousands, - And let thy seed take possession of the gate of them that hate them!
So Hamor entered with Shechem his son into the gate of their city, - and they spake unto the men of their city, saying:
And they hearkened unto Hamor, and unto Shechem his son, even all that were going forth out of the gate of his city, - and every male was circumcised, all that were going forth out of the gate of his city.
All these, were fortified cities each with a high wall, folding gates and a bar, - besides country towns exceeding many. And we devoted them to destruction, doing unto them as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, - devoting to destruction every city of males, the women, and the little ones.
and thou shalt write them upon the pests of thy house and within thy gates.
So shall ye rejoice before Yahweh your God, Ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your servants and your handmaids, - and the Levite that is within your gates, forasmuch as he hath neither portion nor inheritance with you.
Judges and officers, shalt thou appoint thee in all thy gates, which Yahweh thy God is giving unto thee, by thy tribes, - and they shall judge the people, with righteous judgment,
then shall his father and his mother, lay hold of him, - and bring him forth unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
But, if the man like not to take his sister-in-law, then shall his sister-in-law go up unto the gate, unto the elders, and say - My husband's brother hath refused, to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he is not willing to do as a husband's brother unto me.
and it came to pass, as the gate was about to be shut in the darkness, that, the men, went out, I know not whither the men went, - pursue them quickly for ye shall overtake them.
So, the men, pursued them by way of the Jordan unto the fords, - the gate being shut as soon as they who pursued them had gone forth.
and he shall flee unto one of these cities and present himself at the entrance of the gate of the city, and shall speak, in the ears of the elders of that city, his defence, - and they shall take him for protection into the city unto them, and shall give him a place, so shall he dwell with them.
They chose gods that were new, Then, - war at the gates! Was there, a shield, to be seen? or a spear? among forty thousand in Israel?
Then came forth Gaal son of Ebed, and took his stand at the opening of the gate of the city, - so Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from the place of ambush.
And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, - and there fell a multitude of slain as far as the entering of the gate.
And, Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, spread themselves out, and one of the companies took their stand at the opening of the gate of the city, - while, the two companies, spread themselves out against all that were in the field, and smote them.
And Abimelech came in as far as the tower, and fought against it, - and so came near, as far as the entrance of the tower, to burn it with fire.
Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, wife of Mahlon, have I taken over, to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off - from among his brethren, and from the gate of his dwelling- place, - Witnesses, are ye to-day!
Now, David, was sitting between the two gates, - and the watchman went on to the top of the gate-house, upon the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and lo! a man, running alone.
And, the entrance of the shrine, made he with doors, of wild olive-wood, the pillars and posts being a fifth. The two doors, also were of olive-wood, and he carved upon them carvings of cherubim, and palm-trees, and festoons of flowers, and overlaid them with gold, - yea he spread out, over the cherubim and over the palm-trees, the gold.
And, the two doors, were of fir wood, - the two leaves of the one door, were folding, and, the two leaves of the other door, were folding.
And, the two doors, were of fir wood, - the two leaves of the one door, were folding, and, the two leaves of the other door, were folding. And he carved cherubim, and palm-trees, and festoons of flowers, and overlaid them with gold, smoothed out on the carved work.
Then said Elisha - Hear ye the word of Yahweh, - Thus, saith Yahweh - About this time to-morrow, a measure of fine meal for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
and be brought in all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where, the priests, had burned incense, from Geba unto Beer-sheba, - and brake down the high places of the gates, that were at the entrance of the gate of Joshua, the governor of the city, which were on one's left hand, in the gate of the city;
Yahweh loveth the gates of Zion, More than all the dwellings of Jacob.
For he brake in pieces the doors of bronze, And, the bars of iron, he hewed asunder.
Bel, hath crouched, Nebo, is cowering, Their images, are delivered up to beast and to cattle, - The things ye carried about, are become a load, A burden, to the weary! They have cowered they have crouched at once, And they cannot rescue the burden, - But their own soul, into captivity, hath departed.
In view of these things, wilt thou restrain thyself. O Yahweh? Wilt thou hold thy peace and humble us so very greatly?
And there were two doors, to the temple, and to the holy place; and two leaves to the doors, - two folding leaves, two to the one door and two to the other door.
Also, the priest of the Jupiter that was before the city, bringing bulls and garlands unto the gates, with the multitudes, would have offered sacrifice.
and, the twelve gates, were twelve pearls, - each one of the gates, severally, was of one pearl; and, the broadway of the city, was pure gold, as transparent glass.
Watsons
GATE is often used in Scripture to denote a place of public assembly, where justice was administered, De 17:5,8; 21:19; 22:15; 25:6-7, &c. One instance of these judgments appears in that given at the gate of Bethlehem, between Boaz and a relation of Naomi, on the subject of Ruth, Ru 4:2; another in Abraham's purchase of a field to bury Sarah, Ge 23:10,18. The gate of judgment is a term still common to the Arabians to express a court of justice, and even introduced by the Saracens into Spain. "I had several times," says Jacob, "visited the Alhambra, the ancient palace and fortress of the Moorish kings: it is situated on the top of a hill, overlooking the city, and is surrounded by a wall of great height and thickness. The entrance is through an archway, over which is carved a key, the symbol of the Mohammedan monarchs. This gate, called the gate of judgment, according to eastern forms, was the place where the kings administered justice." In Morocco, the gate is still the place where judgment is held. "All complaints," says Host, "are brought, in the first instance, to the cadi, or governor, who, for that purpose, passes certain hours of the day in the gate of the city, partly for the sake of the fresh air, and partly to see all those who go out; and, lastly, to observe a custom which has long prevailed, of holding judgment there. The gate is contrived accordingly, being built like a square chamber, with two doors, which are not directly opposite to each other, but on two adjoining sides, with seats on the other sides. In this manner David sat between two gates," 2Sa 18:24. Gate sometimes signifies power, dominion, almost in the same sense as the Turkish emperor's palace is called the Porte. God promises Abraham that his posterity shall possess the gates of their enemies, their towns, their fortresses, Ge 22:17. Jesus Christ says to Peter, "Thou art Peter; and on this rock will I build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it," Mt 16:18. This may mean either the powers of hell, or invisible spirits; or simply death,
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That I will, richly bless, thee, and, abundantly multiply, thy seed, as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is on the lip of the sea, - that thy seed may take possession of the gate of his foes:
Now, Ephron, was sitting in the midst of the sons of Heth, - so Ephron the Hittite responded to Abraham, in the ears of the sons of Heth, even all that were entering the gate of his city, saying:
to Abraham as a purchase in the eyes of the sons of Heth, - with all who were entering the gate of his city.
then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman who hath done this wicked thing, within thy gates - the man, or the woman, - and shalt stone them with stones that they die.
When any matter of judgment, shall be too difficult for thee - between blood and blood between plea and plea or between stroke and stroke, matters of contention within thy gates, then shalt thou arise and go up unto the place which Yahweh thy God shall choose;
then shall his father and his mother, lay hold of him, - and bring him forth unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
then shall the father of the damsel and her mother take and bring forth the tokens of the virginity of the damsel, unto the elders of the city, in the gate;
And it shall be, that, the firstborn which she beareth, shall succeed in the name of his brother who is dead, - so shall his name not be wiped out from Israel. But, if the man like not to take his sister-in-law, then shall his sister-in-law go up unto the gate, unto the elders, and say - My husband's brother hath refused, to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he is not willing to do as a husband's brother unto me.
Then fetched he ten men of the elders of the city, and said - Sit ye down here. And they sat down.
Now, David, was sitting between the two gates, - and the watchman went on to the top of the gate-house, upon the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and lo! a man, running alone.
And, I also, unto thee, say - Thou, art Peter, - and, upon this rock, will I build my assembly, and, the gates of hades, shall not prevail against it.