Topical Bible: Gates: Made of Wood

◄ Gates: Made of Wood ►

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In biblical times, gates served as critical components of city defenses, as well as places of commerce, judgment, and social interaction. While many gates were constructed from stone or metal, wooden gates were also prevalent, particularly in less fortified cities or in specific structures such as temples and private residences.

Construction and Design

Wooden gates in ancient Israel were typically crafted from durable and readily available timber, such as cedar or cypress. These materials were chosen for their strength and resistance to decay. The construction of wooden gates involved skilled craftsmanship, as they needed to be both sturdy and functional. The gates were often reinforced with metal bands or bolts to enhance their strength and security.

Biblical References

The Bible provides several references to gates made of wood, highlighting their significance in various contexts:

1. Temple Gates: The gates of the temple, while primarily made of bronze, included wooden elements. In 1 Kings 6:34, it is noted that "two doors of cypress wood" were part of the temple's construction, indicating the use of wood in sacred spaces.

2. City Gates: Wooden gates were common in city fortifications. In the account of Samson in Judges 16:3, it is recorded that he "took hold of the doors of the city gate and the two gateposts and pulled them up, bar and all." This suggests that the gates, likely made of wood, were significant enough to be a focal point in the narrative.

3. Symbolic Use: Wooden gates also appear in prophetic and symbolic contexts. In Ezekiel 41:23-25, the prophet describes the temple's inner sanctuary with "two doors" made of wood, adorned with cherubim and palm trees, symbolizing divine presence and protection.

Cultural and Religious Significance

Gates, including those made of wood, held cultural and religious importance in biblical times. They were not only physical barriers but also places where legal matters were settled, as seen in Ruth 4:1-11, where Boaz goes to the town gate to redeem Ruth. The gates served as a venue for public discourse and decision-making, underscoring their role in community life.

Metaphorical Implications

In Scripture, gates often carry metaphorical meanings. Wooden gates, while practical, also symbolize access and transition. Jesus refers to Himself as the "gate" in John 10:9, emphasizing the concept of entry into salvation and the Kingdom of God. This metaphorical use underscores the spiritual significance of gates beyond their physical construction.

Conclusion

Wooden gates in the Bible, while less frequently mentioned than their stone or metal counterparts, play a vital role in the narrative and theological landscape of Scripture. They serve as practical structures, cultural symbols, and spiritual metaphors, reflecting the multifaceted nature of gates in biblical thought.

Nave's Topical Index

Nehemiah 1:3
And they said to me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Concerning the Gates and Chambers Lying on the South Side of the ...
... Century Chapters 31-40 Chapter 31 Concerning the Gates and Chambers ... conveyed hither,
after the search about it was made in the 'chamber of wood' (which was ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 31 concerning the gates.htm

Concerning the Tabernacle which Moses Built in the Wilderness for ...
... of hair and of skins, reached down in the same manner as did the veil at the gates,
and kept ... 5. There was also an ark made, sacred to God, of wood that was ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 concerning the tabernacle.htm

How Pompey when the Citizens of Jerusalem Shut their Gates against ...
... of all the most precious, which upon any incision made in the wood with a ... to Pompey;
but Aristobulus's party exhorted them to shut the gates, because he was ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 how pompey when.htm

When the Banks were Completed and the Battering Rams Brought, and ...
... soldiers had already put fire to the gates, and the ... them quickly carried the flames
to the wood that was ... such astonishment, that not one of them made any haste ...
/.../chapter 4 when the banks.htm

The Discovery of the Life-Bringing Cross and of the Holy
... to her for she was at the gates of death ... The venerated wood having been thus identified,
the greater portion of it ... emperor had a head-piece and bit made for his ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter i the discovery of the.htm

That the Judges who Succeeded Gideon Made War with the Adjoining ...
... his forces, and laid faggots of dry wood round the ... whereunto the whole multitude
fled, he made preparation to ... was rushing with violence near the gates, a woman ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 that the judges.htm

How Herod Rebuilt the Temple and Raised it Higher and Made it More ...
... which was southward, had indeed itself gates in its ... cloister; two of which walks
were made parallel to ... adorned with deep sculptures in wood, representing many ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 11 how herod rebuilt.htm

Chel. The Court of the Women.
... But one, without the Temple, made of Corinthian brass ... And two gates of every court
were each thirty ... The burnt sacrifice." Upon another, "The wood." Upon another ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 29 chel the court.htm

How Alexander, Upon the League of Mutual Defense which Cleopatra ...
... what he did, when he was almost at her gates; and she ... He also built a partition-wall
of wood round the altar and ... he was at war with them, and so made no use of ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 13 how alexander upon.htm

On the Words Incarnate, and Made Man.
... for David's throne not the throne of wood, but the ... was by advance made God, from
being made by nature a ... Lord, at Whom the keepers of hell's gates shuddered and ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xii on the words.htm