Topical Bible: Jerusalem: First Gate

◄ Jerusalem: First Gate ►

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The "First Gate" is a term that appears in the context of ancient Jerusalem, a city of profound historical and theological significance in the biblical narrative. While the specific mention of the "First Gate" is not prevalent in the canonical texts, the gates of Jerusalem hold substantial importance throughout Scripture, serving as key locations for commerce, legal matters, and prophetic declarations.

Biblical Context and Significance

Jerusalem, often referred to as the "City of David" and the "Holy City," is central to the biblical account. It is the site of the Temple, the heart of Jewish worship, and the city where Jesus Christ was crucified and resurrected. The gates of Jerusalem are frequently mentioned in the Bible, symbolizing entry points to the city and places of gathering and judgment.

In Nehemiah 3, the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and gates is detailed, highlighting the communal effort to restore the city after the Babylonian exile. Although the "First Gate" is not explicitly named in this chapter, the passage underscores the importance of each gate in the city's defense and daily life. Nehemiah 3:1 states, "Then Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests set to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set up its doors, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel."

Symbolic and Theological Implications

The gates of Jerusalem, including the concept of a "First Gate," carry rich symbolic meaning. Gates in biblical times were not only physical structures but also represented authority, power, and the presence of God. They were places where prophets delivered messages, elders made decisions, and people gathered for significant events.

In a theological sense, gates can symbolize the transition from the secular to the sacred, from the outside world into the presence of God. This is particularly relevant in the context of Jerusalem, the city chosen by God to dwell among His people. Psalm 122:2 reflects the joy and reverence associated with entering Jerusalem: "Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem."

Prophetic and Eschatological Views

Prophetic literature often uses the imagery of gates to convey messages of hope and restoration. In Isaiah 60:11 , the prophet speaks of a future time when the gates of Jerusalem will be perpetually open: "Your gates will always stand open; they will never be shut, day or night, so that the wealth of the nations may be brought into you, with their kings being led in procession."

This eschatological vision points to a time of peace and divine blessing, where Jerusalem becomes a beacon for all nations. The gates, including the notion of a "First Gate," symbolize the welcoming of God's kingdom and the fulfillment of His promises.

Historical and Archaeological Insights

Historically, the gates of Jerusalem have undergone numerous changes due to conquests, reconstructions, and expansions. Archaeological findings have provided insights into the various gates that existed during different periods, from the Canaanite era to the Second Temple period.

While the "First Gate" as a specific term may not be directly identified in archaeological records, the study of Jerusalem's gates offers a glimpse into the city's complex history and the pivotal role these structures played in its development.

In summary, while the "First Gate" is not explicitly detailed in the biblical text, the concept of gates in Jerusalem is deeply embedded in the spiritual and historical fabric of the city. They serve as powerful symbols of access to the divine, communal life, and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.

Nave's Topical Index

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.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

A Description of Some Parts of Ancient Jerusalem.
... The first gate which stood on the eastern side of Jerusalem, to the south of the
south-east angle of the Temple, was the one leading to the suburb of Ophel. ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xlix a description of.htm

Whether Christ Suffered in a Suitable Place?
... Fourthly, He willed to suffer in Jerusalem, where the ... For three reasons Christ suffered
outside the gate, and not ... First of all, that the truth might correspond ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ suffered in a.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, John v. 2, "Now There is in Jerusalem ...
... words of the Gospel, John 5:2, "Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool ...
2. But first passeth away the tribulation of this life, out of which He ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lxxiv on the words.htm

The Fourth and Fifth Falls of Jesus.
... left side of the gate runs first in southerly ... When the procession was near this gate,
the brutal ... clear, was moving and sad: 'Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xxxv the fourth and.htm

The Strait Gate
... obstinacy, has characterised the Jew ever since Jerusalem fell. ... He also spare not
thee.' Israel was first, and has ... it or him through the strait gate, will be ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the strait gate.htm

The Strait Gate. Warned against Herod.
... through cities and villages, teaching, and journeying on unto Jerusalem. ... There one
enters by a narrow gate upon a ... there are last who shall be first, and there ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxxxix the strait gate warned.htm

A Description of the Temple.
The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem. ... for a second gate
for them: this gate was cut out of its wall, over against the first gate. ...
/.../chapter 5 a description of 2.htm

List of Abbreviations Used in Reference to Rabbinic Writings ...
... But in the Jerusalem Gemara (and in Yalkut [see below], as in all works where the
page and column ... K. The Talmudic Tractate Babha Qamma (First Gate'), the first ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/list of abbreviations used in.htm

The Description of Jerusalem.
... 1. The city of Jerusalem was fortified with three walls ... wall took its beginning from
that gate which they called "Gennath," which belonged to the first wall; it ...
/.../chapter 4 the description of.htm

A Glance at Jerusalem.
... on the outside of the walls of Jerusalem, and the ... outside the town, and, near the
south gate, I beheld the ... themselves in all parts, tempting men first to one ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter v a glance at.htm