Topical Bible: Benjamin: A Gate of Jerusalem

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Topical Encyclopedia

The term "Benjamin" in the context of a gate of Jerusalem refers to one of the gates of the ancient city, which is associated with the tribe of Benjamin. The tribe of Benjamin was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel. This tribe held a significant position in the history of Israel, and its territory included the city of Jerusalem.

Biblical References and Historical Context

The gate named after Benjamin is mentioned in the context of the city's fortifications and its strategic importance. While the Bible does not provide extensive details about the specific gate called "Benjamin," it is understood to be located on the northern side of Jerusalem, aligning with the territory traditionally associated with the tribe of Benjamin.

Jerusalem, as the capital city of the united monarchy under King David and later the southern kingdom of Judah, was fortified with several gates, each serving as an entry point and a place of commerce and legal proceedings. The gates of ancient cities were often named after nearby regions or significant tribes, reflecting their geographical or tribal affiliations.

Tribal Significance

The tribe of Benjamin held a unique position among the tribes of Israel. Despite being the smallest tribe, it produced significant figures in Israel's history, including King Saul, the first king of Israel, and the Apostle Paul, originally named Saul of Tarsus. The tribe's territory was strategically located between the powerful tribes of Judah and Ephraim, which often placed it at the center of political and military events.

Jeremiah 37:13 provides a reference to the gate of Benjamin: "But when he was at the Gate of Benjamin, the captain of the guard, whose name was Irijah son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah, arrested Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 'You are deserting to the Chaldeans!'"

This passage highlights the gate's role as a place of military and civic activity, where significant events and interactions took place. The gate served as a checkpoint for those entering or leaving the city, underscoring its importance in the defense and administration of Jerusalem.

Symbolic and Prophetic Dimensions

In the prophetic literature, gates often symbolize access, authority, and judgment. The Gate of Benjamin, by virtue of its association with the tribe of Benjamin, may carry symbolic meanings related to the tribe's historical and spiritual legacy. The tribe's resilience and its members' notable contributions to Israel's history can be seen as emblematic of the gate's enduring presence in the city's life.

The prophetic writings frequently use the imagery of gates to convey messages of warning, judgment, and hope. In this context, the Gate of Benjamin could be seen as a reminder of the tribe's role in Israel's past and its potential for future restoration and blessing.

Conclusion

The Gate of Benjamin, while not extensively detailed in the biblical text, represents a significant aspect of Jerusalem's historical and tribal landscape. Its association with the tribe of Benjamin highlights the tribe's enduring influence and the gate's role in the city's defense and daily life. Through its mention in the scriptures, the Gate of Benjamin serves as a testament to the complex interplay of geography, history, and faith in the narrative of God's people.

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Jeremiah 20:2
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.
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Jeremiah 37:13
And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he took Jeremiah the prophet, saying, You fall away to the Chaldeans.
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Jeremiah 38:7
Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;
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Zechariah 14:10
All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate to the place of the first gate, to the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel to the king's winepresses.
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Library

The World's Wages to a Prophet
... at the gate on the north side of the city, leading to the road to the territory
of Benjamin. No doubt there was a considerable exodus from Jerusalem when the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the worlds wages to a.htm

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
... The sum is, God will, at the day of his rebuilding the New Jerusalem, so visibly ...
that hath been laid against them], they have passed through the gate, and are ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy city or the.htm

And ii.
... as the centre of the life of Judah: "The gate of my ... the mention of which precedes
that of Jerusalem, are all ... is situated in the territory of Benjamin, and that ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i and ii.htm

The Burial and Assumption of the Blessed virgin
... telling his servant to sit at the gate and wait ... for the Holy Sacrifice for the Bethsaida
church in Jerusalem. ... He was of the tribe of Benjamin and came from the ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xix the burial and assumption.htm

How the Temple was Built While the Cutheans Endeavored in Vain to ...
... enemies to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, heard the ... be restored to the people
of Jerusalem; and that ... the Levites set the porters at every gate, according to ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 how the temple.htm

The Call of Isaiah
... Azariah] in the land of Judah and Benjamin was characterized ... invaded by the Assyrian
armies, and Jerusalem was to ... Suddenly the gate and the inner veil of the ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 25 the call of.htm

The History of David
... of David nineteen men and of them of Benjamin three hundred ... and after brought the
ark of God in Jerusalem, and set ... not go home, but lay before the gate of the ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the history of david.htm

How Xerxes the Son of Darius was Well Disposed to the Jews; as ...
... were of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin came together ... out of the country, and out
of Jerusalem itself, and ... men?" And while he staid at the gate, and lamented ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 5 how xerxes the.htm

Further Exposition of the Heresy of the Naasseni; Profess to ...
... been discovered hid in the beauteous seeds of Benjamin. ... men, who enter in through
the third gate. ... Jeremiah likewise utters lamentation for Jerusalem below, not ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter iii further exposition of the.htm

The Assyrian Captivity
... good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may ... instituted important reforms in
the temple service at Jerusalem. ... the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, over which ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 23 the assyrian captivity.htm