Topical Bible: Jerusalem: Gate of the Fountain

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The Gate of the Fountain, also known as the Fountain Gate, is one of the notable gates mentioned in the biblical accounts of Jerusalem, particularly in the context of the city's reconstruction during the time of Nehemiah. This gate holds historical and spiritual significance, reflecting the restoration efforts and the symbolic renewal of the people of Israel.

Biblical References

The primary reference to the Gate of the Fountain is found in the Book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah, a Jewish leader and cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, was instrumental in the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls after the Babylonian exile. The Fountain Gate is specifically mentioned in Nehemiah 3:15: "Shallun son of Col-Hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it, roofed it, set up its doors, bolts, and bars, and repaired the wall of the Pool of Shelah at the king’s garden, as far as the stairs that descend from the City of David" .

This passage highlights the collaborative effort of the Israelites under Nehemiah's leadership to restore the physical and spiritual integrity of Jerusalem. The mention of the Pool of Shelah (or Siloam) and the king's garden indicates the gate's proximity to significant water sources, which were vital for the city's sustenance and ritual purification practices.

Historical and Geographical Context

The Gate of the Fountain was located on the southeastern side of Jerusalem, near the Pool of Siloam. This area was crucial for the city's water supply, as it was fed by the Gihon Spring, one of the few perennial water sources in the region. The strategic importance of this gate is underscored by its connection to the water system, which was essential for both daily life and religious ceremonies.

The gate's location near the City of David, the oldest settled area of Jerusalem, further emphasizes its historical significance. The City of David was the original nucleus of Jerusalem, and its proximity to the Fountain Gate suggests that this entrance was a key point of access to the ancient city.

Symbolic Significance

In a spiritual sense, the Gate of the Fountain represents renewal and life. Water, a symbol of purification and sustenance, plays a central role in biblical theology. The restoration of the Fountain Gate during Nehemiah's time can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual renewal of the Jewish people as they returned from exile and recommitted themselves to God's covenant.

The rebuilding of the gate and the walls of Jerusalem was not merely a physical task but also a spiritual revival. It signified the reestablishment of Jerusalem as the center of Jewish worship and identity. The Fountain Gate, therefore, stands as a testament to God's faithfulness in restoring His people and their city.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the Gate of the Fountain can be viewed as a foreshadowing of the living water that Jesus Christ would later offer. In the New Testament, Jesus refers to Himself as the source of living water, promising eternal life to those who believe in Him (John 4:10-14). This connection between the physical water source at the Fountain Gate and the spiritual living water offered by Christ highlights the continuity of God's redemptive plan throughout Scripture.

In summary, the Gate of the Fountain is a significant element in the biblical narrative of Jerusalem's restoration. It serves as a reminder of the physical and spiritual renewal that God provides, symbolizing hope, sustenance, and the promise of eternal life through faith.

Nave's Topical Index

Nehemiah 2:14
Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.
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Nehemiah 3:15
But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and to the stairs that go down from the city of David.
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Nehemiah 12:37
And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even to the water gate eastward.
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Library

A Description of Some Parts of Ancient Jerusalem.
... shortly after that gate by which Jesus left Jerusalem when bearing ... towers could be
seen, as well as the gate of Bethlehem and the fountain of Gihon. ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xlix a description of.htm

Overcoming Great Difficulties
... out of every ten should live in Jerusalem, the sacred ... upon the wall toward the Dung
Gate; and behind ... At the Fountain Gate they went straight up the stairs of ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/overcoming great difficulties.htm

The Girdle of the City. Nehemiah 3
... they seem to have perished, if so be they perished near Jerusalem, in the ... and went
forward on the right hand to the Dung-gate, the Fountain-gate, the city ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 26 the girdle of.htm

The Description of Jerusalem.
... 1. The city of Jerusalem was fortified with three ... a place called "Bethso," to the
gate of the ... southward, having its bending above the fountain Siloam, where it ...
/.../chapter 4 the description of.htm

Nehemiah's Answer to a Call for Help
... carefully the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and the places where its
gates had been destroyed by fire. Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/nehemiahs answer to a call.htm

In the Last, the Great Day of the Feast'
... Here was the so-called Fountain-Gate,' and still within the City-wall the Pool ... the
Tyropoeon into the Kedron Valley, in the south-eastern angle of Jerusalem. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii in the last.htm

The Great Slaughters and Sacrilege that were in Jerusalem.
... [10] Perhaps, says Dr. Hudson, here was that gate, called the "Gate of the Corner,"
in ... sect.2. [18] This drying up of the Jerusalem fountain of Siloam when the ...
/.../chapter 13 the great slaughters.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem.
... Jeremiah wished that his eyes were a fountain of tears ... us depart hence." The great
eastern gate, which was ... up and down the streets of Jerusalem, declaring the ...
/.../1 the destruction of jerusalem.htm

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath Day and Defends his Act.
... 3. The modern Jerusalem Jews believe in the special healing ... the walls seems to locate
the sheep gate near the ... and too far north for the Virgin's fountain to be ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxxvii jesus heals on the.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem
... Jeremiah wished that his eyes were a fountain of tears ... us depart hence." The great
eastern gate, which was ... up and down the streets of Jerusalem, declaring the ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 1 the destruction of.htm