What was/is the importance of the gates of Jerusalem?

Answer

The gates of ancient cities were crucial for providing access to the city while ensuring security. The Bible references the gates of Jerusalem numerous times in various contexts. Due to the construction, destruction, and relocation of city walls, as well as the bricking up, restoration, or renaming of gates, identifying the specific gate mentioned in the text can be challenging. Adding to the complexity, some gates mentioned seem to be located not in the outer wall but in the wall granting access to the king’s palace.

Pre-Exilic Gates

The wall surrounding Jerusalem before the Babylonian exile likely resembled the one rebuilt by Nehemiah. It encompassed the Temple Mount to the north and extended south to include the Pool of Siloam. Determining the locations of the pre-exilic gates in relation to modern Jerusalem is particularly challenging.

Corner Gate: The location of this gate is uncertain, although it seems to have been on the northwest corner of the wall. It was destroyed by King Jehoash of Israel (2 Kings 14:13;2 Chronicles 25:23) and later rebuilt by King Uzziah, as mentioned in 2 Chronicles 26:9. Jeremiah 31:38 prophesies the rebuilding of the Corner Gate, and Zechariah 14:10 references it in a prophecy concerning the Day of the Lord.

Ephraim Gate: Positioned on the north wall, facing Ephraim. Second Kings 14:13 and 2 Chronicles 25:23 indicate its proximity to the Corner Gate. Although the Ephraim Gate is not listed in Nehemiah’s account of the walls in Nehemiah 3, it is mentioned during the Feast of Booths.

«…their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the Water Gate, and in the street of the Gate of Ephraim.», (Nehemiah 8:16) and the dedication of the wall «…and from above the Gate of Ephraim, and above the Old Gate, and above the Fish Gate, and the Tower of Hananeel, and the Tower of Meah, even unto the Sheep Gate: and they stood still in the Prison Gate.», (Nehemiah 12:39). The latter passage mentions it in series with the Old Gate, the Fish Gate, and the Sheep Gate.

Foundation Gate: This gate is mentioned during the coronation of King Joash «…and a third part shall be at the king’s house; and a third part at the Gate of the Foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD.», (2 Chronicles 23:5) The parallel passage of 2 Kings 11:6 calls it the Sur Gate. Jeremiah called it the Middle Gate and said it was where the Babylonian officials came and waited for King Zedekiah to declare defeat «And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the Middle Gate, even Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.», (Jeremiah 39:3). The Foundation Gate is apparently an interior gate in or leading to the king’s residence. It’s unclear if it is the same as the Horse Gate in 2 Kings 11:16.

Benjamin Gate: Probably the same location as the later Muster Gate or possibly the Sheep Gate. Jeremiah was put into stocks at the Benjamin Gate after Pashhur the priest beat him «Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the High Gate of Benjamin, which was by the hou…

Use of the LORD., (Jeremiah 20:2).

New Gate: Jeremiah faced an inquiry at “the entrance of the New Gate of the LORD’s house,” which was apparently in the temple courtyard (Jeremiah 26:10; Jeremiah 36:10).

Nehemiah’s Gates

While Nehemiah served King Artaxerxes in Persia, he learned about the dilapidated state of Jerusalem. He received permission and resources to travel there and repair the walls and gates. Upon his arrival, Nehemiah meticulously inspected the walls and gates (Nehemiah 2:11-16) and mobilized the people to commence the reconstruction (Nehemiah 2:17-3:32). The rebuilt wall likely covered the same area as before, possibly excluding the king’s gardens in the southeast. Starting from the northeast corner of the northern wall, Nehemiah proceeded counterclockwise:

Sheep Gate (Also known as Benjamin Gate?): Located in the north-central area, just north of the Temple Mount. It was close to the sheep market for temple sacrifices. The priests reconstructed and consecrated it «Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel. », (Nehemiah 3:1). It could be the entrance from the road to Jericho. It might be the same Sheep Gate mentioned in John 5:2 near the Pool of Bethesda, although this connection is uncertain.

Fish Gate (Also known as Ephraim Gate): Positioned in the northwest, just northwest of the temple. It served as the primary entry point for fish traders from the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee. The Fish Gate was one of Jer…

Jerusalem’s main entrances. King Manasseh had built it after God sent the Assyrians to capture him and teach him humility «Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the Fish Gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah. », (2 Chronicles 33:14). Nehemiah had the sons of Hassenaah rebuild it «But the Fish Gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof. », (Nehemiah 3:3). Zephaniah prophesied that a cry will come from the Fish Gate on the Day of the Lord «And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that there shall be the noise of a cry from the Fish Gate, and an howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills. », (Zephaniah 1:10).

Old Gate (AKA Gate of Yeshanah/Jeshanah, which means “of the old” or possibly “the gate of the new quarter”): The location of this gate is uncertain. Nehemiah 3:6 suggests it is near the northwest corner of the wall, west of the Fish Gate.

Valley Gate: West central, south of the present wall of the Old City. The gate that Nehemiah used when he did his inspection of the walls «And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the Dragon Well, and to the Dung Port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. », (Nehemiah 2:13,15) «Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so return.»

ed. », (Nehemiah 2:13,15).

Dung Gate (Also Known As Potsherd Gate?): Located at the very southern tip, facing southwest. There was a fortified section around the Pool of Shelah (or Siloam, John 9:6-7), then the Dung Gate (Nehemiah 3:13-14) led out to a refuse dump in the Hinnom Valley where, during the reign of King Manasseh, child sacrifices were carried out «And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. », (2 Chronicles 33:6). One of the two great choirs went to the Dung Gate during the wall’s dedication «Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate: », (Nehemiah 12:31).

Fountain Gate: Located at the southern tip, facing east. This was the eastern gate that led from the Pool of Shelah to the king’s gardens and the stairs descending the eastern slope (Nehemiah 3:15;Nehemiah 12:37).

Water Gate: Facing east, south of the current Old City walls «Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out. », (Nehemiah 3:26). It is near the beginning of the tunneled waterway that was supplied by a spring—

Possibly En-Rogel (Joshua 15:7; Joshua 18:16) or Gihon (2 Chronicles 32:30; 2 Chronicles 33:14). The eastern wall on the south end apparently was abandoned, and a new wall was built farther west, turning the southern section into more of a tail. The new wall excluded the tomb of David and most of the water tunnel that fed the Pool of Shelah by the Dung Gate. However, the narrow confines included the upper house of the king, the home of the high priest, and the ascent to the armory. After the wall was built, Ezra read the people the Law from a square by the Water Gate «And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the Water Gate; and they spoke unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. », Nehemiah 8:1.

Horse Gate: East side, just east of the royal palace and southeast of the Temple Mount. Near where the priests had their homes «From above the Horse Gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house. », Nehemiah 3:28. Not the same “Horse Gate” of 2 Kings 11:16 and 2 Chronicles 23:15; that gate was between the palace and the temple and was the site where Queen Athaliah was killed.

East Gate (AKA Golden Gate or Temple Gate): Just north of the Horse Gate, it led to the temple. Around 600 BC, Ezekiel prophesied that a “gate facing east” would be sealed Ezekiel 44:1-3, but this is not the same East Gate mentioned by Nehemiah.

Muster Gate (AKA Inspection Gate; Benjamin Gate?): Between the East Gate and the northeast corner of the wall. Possibly the s

Same as the Benjamin Gate «Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD. », (Jeremiah 20:2) where Jeremiah was imprisoned in stocks.

New Testament Gates

The wall around Jerusalem during the New Testament era was likely the largest ever built. Consequently, these gates are particularly challenging to pinpoint.

Essene Gate: The Essene Gate stood on the wall during Jesus’ time, located to the south and slightly west of the present-day Zion Gate. It was the entrance through the wall leading to the Essene quarter of the city. This southern wall was referenced by Josephus but was demolished by the Romans in AD 70 and never reconstructed.

Beautiful Gate (Also known as Nicanor Gate): An entryway to the temple courtyard constructed by Herod the Great using polished bronze. This is where Peter and John healed a lame man «and they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. », (Acts 3:10). Please note, this gate is not part of the city walls.

East Gate (Also known as Beautiful Gate or Golden Gate): Jesus is believed to have entered through this gate on Palm Sunday before expelling the merchants from the temple courtyard (Matthew 21:12-17).

Jerusalem Old City

The walls surrounding Jerusalem have been demolished, reconstructed, and relocated numerous times. They were destroyed by the Romans in AD 70 and by an earthquake in 1033. The current walls were erected in the 1500s. When viewed from above, they resemble a rough parallelogram sloping from northeast to southwest. These are the gates in the Old City of Jerusalem today:

East Gate: In AD 1530, the Ottoman Turks built the East Gate.Walled up the East Gate due to a Jewish tradition stating that the Messiah will pass through the Eastern Gate when He comes to rule. The walling-up of the East Gate was a Muslim attempt to prevent the Jewish Messiah from entering.

Lion’s Gate (Also known as St. Stephen’s Gate): Deacon Stephen was reportedly killed in the Kidron Valley below. In the 16th century, the Turkish sultan dreamt that he was under attack by lions. An interpreter explained that they symbolized the lions guarding the thrones of David and Solomon, indicating that if he respected Jerusalem, he would be blessed. The sultan visited Jerusalem and found the walls in ruins. Consequently, he reconstructed the wall, including this gate—which seems to be adorned with relief carvings of leopards, not lions.

Herod’s Gate (Also known as Flowers Gate): Located near the eastern corner of the north wall. Adjacent to the gate is a cemetery. Due to the undesirable association with a cemetery, the Arabic word for “cemetery”—Sahirah—was changed to Zahirah, meaning “flowers.” Although it is referred to as “Herod’s Gate,” there was no gate there during the reign of Herod the Great, although Herod Antipas had a residence nearby.

Damascus Gate: Positioned at the center of the north wall. It is the most bustling gate on weekends as shoppers enter Jerusalem.

New Gate: Situated at the northwest corner of the Old City. The current New Gate was constructed in 1887 after Christians insisted that the Turkish sultan provide them with direct access to their quarter of the city.

Jaffa Gate: Located at the center of the western wall, close to where Herod’s palace stood. Presently, it serves as one of the primary entrances to Jerusalem.

Zion Gate: Found near the western corner of the southern wall. It connects King David’s tomb and the Upper Room to the Jewish Quarter of the Old City.

Tanners Gate: Although the Tanners Gate dates back to medieval times, it was only reopened in the 1990s to ease pedestrian traffic that previously passed through the newer Dung Gate to reach the Western Wall.

Dung Gate: Apparently not the original Dung Gate; this

is further north, as the “tail” of Nehemiah’s Jerusalem was removed.

New Gates of Jerusalem

Tribal Gates: Ezekiel 48:30–35 and Revelation 21:9–27 depict the New Jerusalem. The celestial city will feature three gates on each side—one gate for every tribe of Israel. Although the walls are constructed and adorned with jewels, each gate will consist of a single pearl, and each will be protected by an angel.