Topical Bible: Jerusalem: Middle Gate

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The Middle Gate of Jerusalem is a significant yet somewhat obscure location mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the context of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. This gate is referenced in the book of Jeremiah, providing insight into the historical and theological context of the city during a tumultuous period.

Biblical Reference:

The Middle Gate is mentioned in Jeremiah 39:3, which states: "Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-sarsekim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon."

This passage describes the moment when Babylonian officials took their positions in Jerusalem after breaching the city's defenses. The presence of these officials at the Middle Gate signifies the capture and control of Jerusalem by Babylonian forces, marking a pivotal moment in the city's history.

Historical Context:

The Middle Gate's mention during the Babylonian conquest highlights its strategic importance within the city's fortifications. Jerusalem, during the time of the prophet Jeremiah, was a city of considerable political and religious significance. The Babylonian siege, which culminated in the destruction of the city and the First Temple in 586 BC, was a defining event in Jewish history.

The Middle Gate likely served as a central point of access within the city's walls, possibly connecting different sections of Jerusalem or serving as a key entry point for officials and military personnel. Its capture by Babylonian officials symbolizes the fall of Jerusalem's defenses and the beginning of Babylonian dominance.

Theological Significance:

From a theological perspective, the fall of Jerusalem and the occupation of the Middle Gate by Babylonian officials can be seen as a fulfillment of prophetic warnings delivered by Jeremiah and other prophets. These warnings were directed at the people of Judah, urging them to repent and return to covenant faithfulness to avoid impending judgment.

Jeremiah's prophecies emphasized the consequences of idolatry, social injustice, and disobedience to God's commandments. The capture of the Middle Gate, therefore, serves as a tangible manifestation of divine judgment, as foretold by the prophet. It underscores the themes of accountability and the sovereignty of God over nations and history.

Archaeological and Geographical Considerations:

While the exact location of the Middle Gate within ancient Jerusalem remains uncertain, archaeological studies of the city's layout during the First Temple period provide some context. Jerusalem was a fortified city with multiple gates, each serving specific functions for defense, trade, and administration.

The Middle Gate's designation suggests a central position, possibly within the inner city or near the royal or administrative quarters. However, due to the lack of direct archaeological evidence pinpointing its precise location, much of its geographical context remains speculative.

Conclusion:

The Middle Gate of Jerusalem, as mentioned in Jeremiah 39:3, holds historical and theological significance within the biblical narrative. Its capture by Babylonian officials marks a critical moment in the fall of Jerusalem, serving as a reminder of the city's vulnerability and the fulfillment of prophetic warnings. The Middle Gate stands as a symbol of divine judgment and the complex interplay between human actions and divine sovereignty in the biblical account.

Nave's Topical Index

Jeremiah 39:3
And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Last Agony
... that 'the history of the world is the judgment of the world.' It was the same hand
which set these harsh conquerors at the middle gate of Jerusalem that sent ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the last agony.htm

The Sad Fate of a Guilty Nation
... Jerusalem was taken in the eleventh year of the rule of Zedekiah, on the ninth day ...
and all the princes of the king of Babylon came and sat in the middle gate. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the sad fate of a.htm

It was Near the Middle Hour of the Night. ...
... It was near the middle hour of the night. ... You shall each have a palace in Jerusalem
and fifty thousand aurei; and you ... You will come to a gate on the Via Sacra. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bacheller/vergilius/chapter 8 it was near.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 ... [or Mez.] Talmudic Tractate Babha Metsia (Middle Gate'), the second,. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/list of abbreviations used in.htm

The End
... their idolatrous and barbarous names, 'came in, and sat in the middle gate.' It
was ... as that on which the king of Babylon 'drew close unto Jerusalem' (Ezekiel 24 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the end.htm

'As Sodom'
... This account of the fall of Jerusalem is all but identical with that in 2 ... 39:3 tells
the names of the Babylonian officers who 'sat in the middle gate' of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/as sodom.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 ... two hundred cubits; but in the middle wall were ...
/.../chapter 4 the description of.htm

The Synod of Jerusalem, and the Compromise Between Jewish and ...
... a small minority of proselytes of the gate, or half ... It is placed in the middle of
the book of ... The object of the Jerusalem consultation was twofold: first, to ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 34 the synod of.htm

In Jerusalem when Herod Reigned
... through it, and out by the Western Gate of the ... When the Maccabee Jonathan finally
cleared Jerusalem of the Syrian ... built a wall right through the middle of the ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter i in jerusalem when.htm

The Teacher Come from God and the Teacher from Jerusalem - Jesus ...
... This was the gate of being through which a man ... of the richest and most distinguished
citisens of Jerusalem (Taan ... p. 10 c, about the middle) this new creation is ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vi the teacher come.htm