Topical Bible: Jerusalem: High Gate

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The "High Gate" in Jerusalem is a term that appears in the context of the ancient city, particularly in the narratives of the Old Testament. It is often associated with the gates of the city that held significant strategic and symbolic importance. The High Gate is mentioned in several passages, providing insight into its role and significance in the biblical narrative.

Biblical References:

1. 2 Kings 15:35 : "Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD." This passage highlights the construction activities of King Jotham, who is noted for rebuilding the Upper Gate, which is often equated with the High Gate. This gate was part of the temple complex, indicating its religious and ceremonial importance.

2. 2 Chronicles 27:3 : "Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD and carried out extensive work on the wall at the hill of Ophel." Here, the Chronicler provides additional details about Jotham's building projects, emphasizing the significance of the Upper Gate in the context of fortifying the city and enhancing the temple's infrastructure.

3. Jeremiah 20:2 : "he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin at the house of the LORD." This reference to the Upper Gate of Benjamin, which is sometimes associated with the High Gate, underscores its role as a place of judgment and public display, as seen in the prophet Jeremiah's persecution.

Historical and Theological Significance:

The High Gate, as part of the temple complex, served not only as a physical entry point but also as a symbol of the city's spiritual and political life. Gates in ancient cities were crucial for defense, commerce, and administration. They were often the sites of legal proceedings and public gatherings, making them central to the community's daily life.

In the context of Jerusalem, the High Gate's association with the temple underscores its religious significance. It was a place where the sacred and the secular intersected, reflecting the theocratic nature of ancient Israelite society. The rebuilding efforts by kings like Jotham highlight the ongoing concern for maintaining and enhancing the city's defenses and religious institutions.

Theologically, the High Gate can be seen as a metaphor for access to the divine presence, as it was part of the temple, the dwelling place of God among His people. The gate's mention in prophetic literature, such as in the book of Jeremiah, also serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by God's messengers and the resistance to divine messages within the city.

Archaeological Insights:

While specific archaeological evidence directly identifying the High Gate remains limited, excavations in Jerusalem have uncovered various gates and fortifications from different periods. These findings provide a broader understanding of the city's layout and the strategic importance of its gates. The Ophel area, mentioned in connection with Jotham's building projects, has yielded significant archaeological discoveries that shed light on the city's ancient fortifications and infrastructure.

In summary, the High Gate of Jerusalem holds a multifaceted role in the biblical narrative, serving as a point of entry, a place of judgment, and a symbol of the city's religious and political life. Its mention in the scriptures reflects the broader themes of access to God, the intersection of the sacred and the secular, and the ongoing struggle between divine authority and human resistance.

Nave's Topical Index

2 Chronicles 23:20
And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the LORD: and they came through the high gate into the king's house, and set the king on the throne of the kingdom.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Jerusalem! High Tower Thy Glorious Walls
... cento. Jerusalem! high tower thy glorious walls,. Would God I were in thee! ... Throw
wide thy gracious gate,. An entrance free to give these longing feet,. ...
/.../processionals 543 jerusalem high tower.htm

How Athaliah Reigned Over Jerusalem for Five [Six] Years when ...
... of the tribes out of it, and came and brought them to Jerusalem to the high priest. ...
temple, and that the next part of you keep guard at the gate which opens ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 how athaliah reigned.htm

The Healing of the Lame Man at the Beautiful Gate
... was the man who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the ... of their rulers,
elders and scribes was held in Jerusalem at which the high priest Annas ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the healing of the lame.htm

The Description of Jerusalem.
... 1. The city of Jerusalem was fortified with three walls ... second wall took its beginning
from that gate which they ... great diligence by the Jews, as high as twenty ...
/.../chapter 4 the description of.htm

A Glance at Jerusalem.
... The High Priests had sent a message to Pilate intimating ... on the outside of the walls
of Jerusalem, and the ... outside the town, and, near the south gate, I beheld ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter v a glance at.htm

The Strait Gate
... necked obstinacy, has characterised the Jew ever since Jerusalem fell ... do not lead
it or him through the strait gate, will be ... Let us 'be not high-minded, but fear ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the strait gate.htm

In Jerusalem when Herod Reigned
... When the Maccabee Jonathan finally cleared Jerusalem of the ... that sat in the entering
of the gate or by ... Temple Mount, which belonged to the High-Priestly family ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter i in jerusalem when.htm

Further Proofs, from Ezekiel. Summary of the Prophetic Argument ...
... And, behold, six men were coming toward the way of the high gate which was ... loins
the girdle; and said unto him, Pass through the midst of Jerusalem, and write ...
/.../tertullian/an answer to the jews/chapter xi further proofs from ezekiel.htm

The Fourth and Fifth Falls of Jesus.
... The high road from which it deviates divided shortly after ... was led might easily see
the gate of Bethlehem. ... were young maidens and women from Jerusalem, who had ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xxxv the fourth and.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem.
... had that day passed out from its golden gate, the glory ... sake be plowed as a field,
and Jerusalem shall become ... the mountain of the house as the high places of ...
/.../1 the destruction of jerusalem.htm