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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And there came two angels to Sodom at even. And Lot sat at the gate of the city. And Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them, and he bowed himself to the ground with his face.
that I will bless thee and multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven and as the sand upon the sea side. And thy seed shall possess the gates of his enemies.
For Ephron dwelled among the children of Heth. Then Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth and of all that went in at the gates of his city, saying, "Not so, my lord, but hear me: The field give I thee, and the cave that therein is, give I thee also. And even in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee to bury thy dead in." read more. Then Abraham bowed himself before the people of the land, and spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the country saying, "I pray thee hear me: I will give silver for the field, take it of me, and so will I bury my dead there." Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him, "My lord, hearken unto me. The land is worth four hundredth sicles of silver: But what is that betwixt thee and me? Bury thy dead." And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron and weighed him the silver which he had said in the audience of the sons of Heth. Even four hundred silver sicles of current money among merchants. Thus was the field of Ephron wherein the double cave is before Mamre - even the field and the cave that is therein, and all the trees of the field which grow in all the borders round about - made sure unto Abraham for a possession, in the sight of the children of Heth and of all that went in at the gates of the city.
All these cities were made strong with high walls, gates and bars; beside un-walled towns, a great many.
Judges and officers thou shalt make thee in all thy cities, which the LORD thy God giveth thee throughout thy tribes: And let them judge the people righteously.
Then let his father and his mother take him and bring him out unto the elders of that city and unto the gate of that same place,
And the eldest son which she beareth, shall stand up in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out in Israel. But and if the man will not take his sister-in-law, then let her go to the gate unto the elders and say, 'My brother-in-law refuseth to stir up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not marry me.'
And he shall keep thee in all thy cities, until thy high and strong walls be come down wherein thou trustedest, through all thy land. And he shall besiege thee in all thy cities throughout all thy land which the LORD thy God hath given thee.
"God chose new fashions of war, for when they had war at their gates: there was not seen, among forty thousand, either shield or spear in Israel.
And Samson took his rest till midnight, and arose at midnight took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two side posts, and rent them off, bars and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of a hill that lieth before Hebron.
Then went Boaz unto the gate and sat him down there. And behold, the kinsman of which Boaz spake came by. Unto whom he said, "Come and sit down here, and called him by his name." And he turned in and sat down. Then he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, "Sit ye down here." And they sat down. read more. Then he said unto the kinsman, "Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, will sell a parcel of land which was our brother Elimelech's. And I thought to do thee to know, and bid thee buy it before the inhabiters and elders of my people, if thou be disposed to challenge it: but and if thou wilt not purchase it, then tell me that I may know it. For there is none to challenge it save thou, and I next after thee." And the other answered, "I will purchase it." Then said Boaz, "What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must take also Ruth the Moabite the wife of the dead, to stir up the name of the dead upon his inheritance." Then said the kinsman, "I cannot purchase it for marrying of mine own inheritance: take thou my right to thee, for I cannot purchase it." Now this was the manner of old time in Israel concerning purchase and changing, for to establish all things: that a man must pluck off his shoe and give it his neighbour, and this was a witness in Israel. And the kinsman said to Boaz, "Buy it thou": and so drew off his shoe. Then said Boaz unto the elders and unto all the people, "Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. And moreover, Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, do I take unto me to wife to stir up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that his name be not put out from among his brethren, and from the gate of his city: ye are witnesses this day." And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said "We are witnesses: the LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and Lea, which twain did build the house of Israel: that she may do virtuously in Ephrata, and be famous in Bethlehem, and that thine house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, even of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman."
And David sat between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes and saw: and behold, there came a man running alone.
And the king was moved and went up to a chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went thus he said, "My son Absalom, my son, my son, my son Absalom, would to God I had died for thee Absalom, my son, my son."
and there came in two unthrifty persons and sat before him. And the two unthrifty persons witnessed against Naboth before the people, saying, "Naboth did curse God and the king." And upon that they carried him out of the city and stoned him with stones to death.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
They that sit in the gate speak against me, and the drunkards make songs upon me.
She calleth before the congregation in the open gates, and showeth her words through the city, saying,
Doth she not cry before the whole city, and in the gates where men go out and in?
He that loveth strife, delighteth in sin; and whoso setteth his door too high, seeketh after a fall.
See that thou rob not the poor because he is weak, and oppress not the simple in judgment;
Mourn, ye ports; weep, ye cities; and fear thou, O whole Philistia, for there shall come from the North a smoke, whose power no man may abide.
such as labour to draw men unto sin; and that deceive him which reproveth them in the gate; and such as turn good persons to vanity.
I will go before thee, and make the crooked straight. I shall break the brazen doors, and burst the iron bars.
"Judah shall mourn, men shall not go much more through his gates: the land shall be no more had in reputation, and the cry of Jerusalem shall break out.
Again, thus hath the LORD said unto me, "Go stand under the gate, wherethrough the people and the kings of Judah go out and in; yea, under all the gates of Jerusalem,
And when all the people were gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, the princes of Judah heard of this rumor, and they came soon out of the king's Palace into the house of the LORD, and sat them down before the new door of the LORD.
But they owe him evil will, that reproveth them openly: and whoso telleth them the plain truth, they abhor him.
As for the multitude of your wickednesses and your stout sins, I know them right well. Enemies are ye of the righteous; ye take rewards; ye oppress the poor in judgment.
Hate the evil, and love the good. Set up right again in the port and, no doubt, the LORD God of hosts shall be merciful unto the remnant of Joseph.
and cast him out of the city, and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, named Saul.
When they were past the first and the second watch, they came unto the iron gate, that leadeth unto the city, which opened to them by his own accord. And they went out and passed through one street, and by and by the angel departed from him.
Therefore Jesus, to sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
And the gates of it are not shut by day. For there shall be no night 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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And there came two angels to Sodom at even. And Lot sat at the gate of the city. And Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them, and he bowed himself to the ground with his face.
he went and stood in the gate of the host and said, "If any man pertain unto the LORD, let him come to me." And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together and came unto him. And he said unto them, "Thus sayeth the LORD of Israel, 'Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the host: and slay every man his brother, every man his friend and every man his neighbor."
Judges and officers thou shalt make thee in all thy cities, which the LORD thy God giveth thee throughout thy tribes: And let them judge the people righteously.
If a matter be too hard for thee in judgment between blood and blood, plea and plea, stroke and stroke in matters of strife within thy cities: Then arise and get thee up unto the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen,
Then let his father and his mother take him and bring him out unto the elders of that city and unto the gate of that same place,
And the eldest son which she beareth, shall stand up in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out in Israel. But and if the man will not take his sister-in-law, then let her go to the gate unto the elders and say, 'My brother-in-law refuseth to stir up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not marry me.'
And Samson took his rest till midnight, and arose at midnight took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two side posts, and rent them off, bars and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of a hill that lieth before Hebron.
And Samson took his rest till midnight, and arose at midnight took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two side posts, and rent them off, bars and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of a hill that lieth before Hebron.
And in the entering of the quyre he made two doors of olive tree, with the upper and two side posts five square. And the two doors of olive tree he graved with graving of Cherubs and Palm trees and graved flowers, and covered them with gold, and laid gold over the Cherubs and also the Palm trees.
and two doors of fir tree, and either door with two folding leaves and graved thereon Cherubs, Palm trees and flowers, and covered them with gold made plain by a ruler.
And when Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his mantle, and went out and stood in the mouth of the cave. And see, there came a voice unto him and said, "What doest thou here Elijah?"
and there came in two unthrifty persons and sat before him. And the two unthrifty persons witnessed against Naboth before the people, saying, "Naboth did curse God and the king." And upon that they carried him out of the city and stoned him with stones to death.
And they said unto me, "The remnant of the captivity are there in the land in great misfortune and rebuke. The walls of Jerusalem are broken down, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire."
Nevertheless I was sore afraid and said unto the king, "God save the king's life forever, should I not look sadly? The city of my fathers' burial lieth waste and the gates thereof are consumed with fire."
And letters unto Asaph the lord of the king's wood, that he may give me wood for beams to the gates of the palace, which are hard on the house and hard on the walls of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into." And the king gave me according to the good hand of God upon me.
But the fishport did the children of Hassenaah build; they covered it and set on the doors, locks and bars of it.
Open me the gates of righteousness, that I may go in there through, and give thanks unto the LORD.
She calleth before the congregation in the open gates, and showeth her words through the city, saying,
Doth she not cry before the whole city, and in the gates where men go out and in?
such as labour to draw men unto sin; and that deceive him which reproveth them in the gate; and such as turn good persons to vanity.
I will go before thee, and make the crooked straight. I shall break the brazen doors, and burst the iron bars.
thy windows of Crystal, thy gates of fine clear stone, and thy borders of pleasant stones.
Again, thus hath the LORD said unto me, "Go stand under the gate, wherethrough the people and the kings of Judah go out and in; yea, under all the gates of Jerusalem, and say unto them, 'Hear the word of the LORD, ye kings of Judah, and all thou people of Judah, and all ye citizens of Jerusalem, that go through this gate!
And when all the people were gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, the princes of Judah heard of this rumor, and they came soon out of the king's Palace into the house of the LORD, and sat them down before the new door of the LORD.
And when he came under Benjamin's port, there was a porter, called Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah, which fell upon him, and took him, saying, "Thy mind is to run to the Chaldeans."
The temple and the holiest of all had either of them two doors and every door had two little wickets which were folden in one upon another, on every side two.
And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter. And upon this rock, I will build my congregation: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
and put it in his new tomb, which he had hewn out even in the rock, and rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre and departed.
And there was a certain man halt from his mother's womb, whom they brought and laid at the gate of the temple called Beautiful, to ask his alms of them that entered into the temple.
And they stoned Stephen, calling on and saying, "Lord Jesus receive my spirit."
When they were past the first and the second watch, they came unto the iron gate, that leadeth unto the city, which opened to them by his own accord. And they went out and passed through one street, and by and by the angel departed from him.
When they were past the first and the second watch, they came unto the iron gate, that leadeth unto the city, which opened to them by his own accord. And they went out and passed through one street, and by and by the angel departed from him.
When the keeper of the prison waked out of his sleep, and saw the prison doors open, he drew out his sword and would have killed himself, supposing the prisoners had been fled.
Therefore Jesus, to sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
The twelve gates were twelve pearls, every gate was of one pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, as through shining 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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And there came two angels to Sodom at even. And Lot sat at the gate of the city. And Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them, and he bowed himself to the ground with his face.
that I will bless thee and multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven and as the sand upon the sea side. And thy seed shall possess the gates of his enemies.
For Ephron dwelled among the children of Heth. Then Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth and of all that went in at the gates of his city, saying,
And they shall take of the blood and strike on the two side posts and on the upper doorpost of the houses, wherein they eat him.
And take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike it upon the upper post and on the two side posts, and see that none of you go out at the door of his house until the morning.
All these cities were made strong with high walls, gates and bars; beside un-walled towns, a great many.
Judges and officers thou shalt make thee in all thy cities, which the LORD thy God giveth thee throughout thy tribes: And let them judge the people righteously.
Then let his father and his mother take him and bring him out unto the elders of that city and unto the gate of that same place,
And about the time of the shutting of the gate, when it was dark, they went out. Whither they went, I know not: but follow after them quickly, and ye shall take them."
And the men pursued after them, the way to Jordan even unto the passage, and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gates immediately.
And the slayer shall flee unto one of those Cities and shall stand in the entering of the gate of the city and shall show his cause in the ears of the elders of the said city. And they shall take him into the city unto them, and shall give him a place that he may dwell among them.
"God chose new fashions of war, for when they had war at their gates: there was not seen, among forty thousand, either shield or spear in Israel.
Then came Abimelech unto the tower and fought against it, and went hard unto the entering of the gate, to set it on fire.
Then went Boaz unto the gate and sat him down there. And behold, the kinsman of which Boaz spake came by. Unto whom he said, "Come and sit down here, and called him by his name." And he turned in and sat down.
Then he made a porch to sit and judge in, sealed with Cedar throughout all the pavements. And his own house where he kept residence, in another court without that porch, was of the same work.
And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat either in his seat and their apparel on them, in a void place beside the entering of the gate of Samaria, and all the Prophets prophesying before them.
Then Elisha said, "Hear the word of the LORD, for thus sayeth the LORD, 'Tomorrow this time a bushel of fine flour shall be sold for a sicle and two bushels of Barley for another in the gates of Samaria.'"
And he set Captains of war over the people and gathered them together unto the large street of the gate of the city and spake gently to them, saying,
Now when the seventh month drew nigh, and the children of Israel were in their cities, all the people gathered themselves together as one man upon the street before the Watergate, and said unto Ezra the scribe that he should fetch the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD commanded to Israel.
And read therein in the street that is before the Watergate, from the morning until the noon day before men and women, and such as could understand it: and the ears of all the people were inclined unto the book of the law.
There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish and all manner of wares, and sold on the Sabbath unto the children of Judah and Jerusalem. Then reproved I the rulers in Judah, and said unto them, "What evil thing is this that ye do, and break the Sabbath day? read more. Did not our fathers even thus, and our God brought all this plague upon us and upon this city? And ye make the wrath more yet upon Israel, in that ye break the Sabbath." And it fortuned, that when the ports of Jerusalem began to be dark in the evening before the Sabbath, I commanded to shut the gates, and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day.
And all the king's servants that were in the gate, bowed their knees, and did reverenced unto Haman: for the king had so commanded. But Mordecai bowed not the knee, and worshiped him not.
and came before the king's gate: for there might no man enter within the king's gate, that had a sackcloth on.
When I went through the city unto the gate, and when they set me a chair in the street;
They that sit in the gate speak against me, and the drunkards make songs upon me.
They that sit in the gate speak against me, and the drunkards make songs upon me.
He sendeth out his word, and melteth them; he bloweth with his wind, and the waters flow.
She calleth before the congregation in the open gates, and showeth her words through the city, saying,
See that thou rob not the poor because he is weak, and oppress not the simple in judgment;
such as labour to draw men unto sin; and that deceive him which reproveth them in the gate; and such as turn good persons to vanity.
thy windows of Crystal, thy gates of fine clear stone, and thy borders of pleasant stones.
"Stand under the gates of the LORD's house, and cry out these words there, with a loud voice, and say, Hear the word of the LORD all ye of Judah, that go in at this door, to honour the LORD.
Again, thus hath the LORD said unto me, "Go stand under the gate, wherethrough the people and the kings of Judah go out and in; yea, under all the gates of Jerusalem,
The elders sit no more under the gates, and the young men use no more the playing of Music.
So the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many and great gifts. He made him ruler of all the countries of Babylon, and lord of all the nobles, that were at Babylon. Now Daniel intreated the king for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, so that he made them rulers over all the offices in the land of Babylon: But Daniel himself remained still in the court by the king.
But they owe him evil will, that reproveth them openly: and whoso telleth them the plain truth, they abhor him.
As for the multitude of your wickednesses and your stout sins, I know them right well. Enemies are ye of the righteous; ye take rewards; ye oppress the poor in judgment.
Now the things that ye shall do, are these: Speak every man the truth unto his neighbour, execute judgment truly, and peaceably within your ports,
And there was a certain man halt from his mother's womb, whom they brought and laid at the gate of the temple called Beautiful, to ask his alms of them that entered into the temple.
Then Jupiter's priest, which dwelt before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gate, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
The twelve gates were twelve pearls, every gate was of one pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, as through shining 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 the slayer shall flee unto one of those Cities and shall stand in the entering of the gate of the city and shall show his cause in the ears of the elders of the said city. And they shall take him into the city unto them, and shall give him a place that he may dwell among them.
Then came Abimelech unto the tower and fought against it, and went hard unto the entering of the gate, to set it on fire.
Then went Boaz unto the gate and sat him down there. And behold, the kinsman of which Boaz spake came by. Unto whom he said, "Come and sit down here, and called him by his name." And he turned in and sat down. Then he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, "Sit ye down here." And they sat down. read more. Then he said unto the kinsman, "Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, will sell a parcel of land which was our brother Elimelech's. And I thought to do thee to know, and bid thee buy it before the inhabiters and elders of my people, if thou be disposed to challenge it: but and if thou wilt not purchase it, then tell me that I may know it. For there is none to challenge it save thou, and I next after thee." And the other answered, "I will purchase it." Then said Boaz, "What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must take also Ruth the Moabite the wife of the dead, to stir up the name of the dead upon his inheritance." Then said the kinsman, "I cannot purchase it for marrying of mine own inheritance: take thou my right to thee, for I cannot purchase it." Now this was the manner of old time in Israel concerning purchase and changing, for to establish all things: that a man must pluck off his shoe and give it his neighbour, and this was a witness in Israel. And the kinsman said to Boaz, "Buy it thou": and so drew off his shoe. Then said Boaz unto the elders and unto all the people, "Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. And moreover, Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, do I take unto me to wife to stir up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that his name be not put out from among his brethren, and from the gate of his city: ye are witnesses this day." And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said "We are witnesses: the LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and Lea, which twain did build the house of Israel: that she may do virtuously in Ephrata, and be famous in Bethlehem, and that thine house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, even of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman."
Then the king arose and sat down in the Gate. And it was told unto all the people, how the king sat in the Gate. And then all the people came before the king. But Israel fled every man to his tent.
When I went through the city unto the gate, and when they set me a chair in the street;
They that sit in the gate speak against me, and the drunkards make songs upon me.
such as labour to draw men unto sin; and that deceive him which reproveth them in the gate; and such as turn good persons to vanity.
The elders sit no more under the gates, and the young men use no more the playing of Music.
But they owe him evil will, that reproveth them openly: and whoso telleth them the plain truth, they abhor him.
As for the multitude of your wickednesses and your stout sins, I know them right well. Enemies are ye of the righteous; ye take rewards; ye oppress the poor in judgment.
Now the things that ye shall do, are these: Speak every man the truth unto his neighbour, execute judgment truly, and peaceably within your ports,
Enter in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: But strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
which when he had found one precious pearl, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter. And upon this rock, I will build my congregation: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
And they knew him, that it was he which sat and begged at the Beautiful gate of the temple. And they wondered, and were sore astonished at that which had happened unto him.
When they were past the first and the second watch, they came unto the iron gate, that leadeth unto the city, which opened to them by his own accord. And they went out and passed through one street, and by and by the angel departed from him.
Then Jupiter's priest, which dwelt before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gate, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
and had walls great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels: and names written, which are the twelve tribes of Israel: on the east part three gates, and on the north side three gates, and towards the south three gates, and from the west three gates. read more. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the Lamb's twelve apostles. And he that talked with me, had a golden reed to measure the city withal and the gates thereof and the wall thereof. And the city was built four square, and the length was as large as the breadth of it, and he measured the city with the reed twelve thousand furlongs: and the length, and the breadth, and the height of it, were equal. And he measured the wall thereof a hundred and forty four cubits: the measure that the angel had was after the measure that man useth. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper. And the city was pure gold like unto clear glass and the foundations of the wall of the city was garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third a chalcedony, the fourth an emerald: the fifth sardonyx: the sixth sardius: the seventh chrysolite: the eighth beryl: the ninth a topaz: the tenth a chrysoprasus: the eleventh a jacinth: the twelfth an amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, every gate was of one pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, as through shining glass. And there was no temple therein. For the Lord God almighty and the lamb are the temple of it. And the city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to lighten it. For the brightness of God did light it: and the lamb was the light of it. And the people which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory unto it. And the gates of it are not shut by day. For there shall be no night 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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And there came two angels to Sodom at even. And Lot sat at the gate of the city. And Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them, and he bowed himself to the ground with his face.
that I will bless thee and multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven and as the sand upon the sea side. And thy seed shall possess the gates of his enemies.
For Ephron dwelled among the children of Heth. Then Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth and of all that went in at the gates of his city, saying,
And they blessed Rebekah and said unto her, "Thou art our sister, grow into thousand thousands, and thy seed possess the gates of their enemies."
Then Hamor and Shechem went unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,
And unto Hamor and Shechem his son hearkened all that went out at the gate of his city. And all the men children were circumcised, whatsoever went out at the gates of his city.
All these cities were made strong with high walls, gates and bars; beside un-walled towns, a great many. And we utterly destroyed them, as we played with Sihon king of Heshbon: bringing to nought all the cities with men, women and children.
And ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God, both ye, your sons and your daughters, your servants and your maids and the Levite that is within your gates for he hath neither part nor inheritance with you.
Judges and officers thou shalt make thee in all thy cities, which the LORD thy God giveth thee throughout thy tribes: And let them judge the people righteously.
Then let his father and his mother take him and bring him out unto the elders of that city and unto the gate of that same place,
But and if the man will not take his sister-in-law, then let her go to the gate unto the elders and say, 'My brother-in-law refuseth to stir up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not marry me.'
And about the time of the shutting of the gate, when it was dark, they went out. Whither they went, I know not: but follow after them quickly, and ye shall take them."
And the men pursued after them, the way to Jordan even unto the passage, and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gates immediately.
And the slayer shall flee unto one of those Cities and shall stand in the entering of the gate of the city and shall show his cause in the ears of the elders of the said city. And they shall take him into the city unto them, and shall give him a place that he may dwell among them.
"God chose new fashions of war, for when they had war at their gates: there was not seen, among forty thousand, either shield or spear in Israel.
And Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entering of the gate of the city. And Abimelech rose up and the folk that were with him, from lying await.
And Abimelech chased him that he fled before him and many were overthrown and slain, even until they came unto the entering of the gate.
And Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, ran and stood in the entering of the gate of the city. And the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields and slew them.
Then came Abimelech unto the tower and fought against it, and went hard unto the entering of the gate, to set it on fire.
And moreover, Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, do I take unto me to wife to stir up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that his name be not put out from among his brethren, and from the gate of his city: ye are witnesses this day."
And David sat between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes and saw: and behold, there came a man running alone.
And in the entering of the quyre he made two doors of olive tree, with the upper and two side posts five square. And the two doors of olive tree he graved with graving of Cherubs and Palm trees and graved flowers, and covered them with gold, and laid gold over the Cherubs and also the Palm trees.
and two doors of fir tree, and either door with two folding leaves and graved thereon Cherubs, Palm trees and flowers, and covered them with gold made plain by a ruler.
Then Elisha said, "Hear the word of the LORD, for thus sayeth the LORD, 'Tomorrow this time a bushel of fine flour shall be sold for a sicle and two bushels of Barley for another in the gates of Samaria.'"
And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the hill altars where the priests did burn sacrifice, even from Geba to Beersheba. And he brake down the hill altars of the Gates, that were in the entering of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on the left hand of the gate of the city.
Bel is fallen, and Nebo is broken down: whose images were a burden for the beasts and cattle, to overladen them, and to make them weary. They are sunk down, and fallen together; for they may not ease them of their burden, therefore must they go into captivity.
Wilt thou not be intreated, LORD, for all this? Wilt thou hold thy peace, and scourge us so sore?
The temple and the holiest of all had either of them two doors and every door had two little wickets which were folden in one upon another, on every side two.
Then Jupiter's priest, which dwelt before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gate, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
The twelve gates were twelve pearls, every gate was of one pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, as through shining 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 bless thee and multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven and as the sand upon the sea side. And thy seed shall possess the gates of his enemies.
For Ephron dwelled among the children of Heth. Then Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth and of all that went in at the gates of his city, saying,
in the sight of the children of Heth and of all that went in at the gates of the city.
then thou shalt bring forth that man or that woman which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates and shalt stone them with stones and they shall die.
If a matter be too hard for thee in judgment between blood and blood, plea and plea, stroke and stroke in matters of strife within thy cities: Then arise and get thee up unto the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen,
Then let his father and his mother take him and bring him out unto the elders of that city and unto the gate of that same place,
Then let the father of the damsel and the mother bring forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity, unto the elders of the city, even unto the gate.
And the eldest son which she beareth, shall stand up in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out in Israel. But and if the man will not take his sister-in-law, then let her go to the gate unto the elders and say, 'My brother-in-law refuseth to stir up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not marry me.'
Then he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, "Sit ye down here." And they sat down.
And David sat between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes and saw: and behold, there came a man running alone.
And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter. And upon this rock, I will build my congregation: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.