Topical Bible: Gates: Made to Palaces

◄ Gates: Made to Palaces ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, gates were significant architectural and symbolic elements in the construction of cities, temples, and palaces. They served not only as points of entry and exit but also as places of judgment, commerce, and social interaction. The gates of palaces, in particular, held a special place in the biblical narrative, often representing power, authority, and the presence of royalty.

Architectural Significance

Gates in ancient Near Eastern architecture were often grand and imposing, designed to reflect the strength and majesty of the city or palace they protected. The construction of these gates involved skilled craftsmanship, utilizing materials such as wood, stone, and metal. The gates of Solomon's temple, for instance, were made of olive wood and overlaid with gold, as described in 1 Kings 6:31-35. This opulence was mirrored in the gates of royal palaces, which were designed to impress and intimidate.

Symbolic Importance

In the Bible, gates often symbolize authority and governance. The gates of a palace were not merely physical structures but also represented the seat of power. In the book of Esther, Mordecai sat at the king's gate, a position that indicated his role in the administration of the kingdom (Esther 2:19). Similarly, the gates of the city were places where elders and leaders gathered to make important decisions and render judgments (Deuteronomy 21:19).

Gates in Prophecy and Vision

The prophetic literature of the Bible frequently uses the imagery of gates to convey messages of hope and restoration. In Isaiah 60:11 , the prophet envisions a time when the gates of Jerusalem will stand open continually, welcoming the wealth of nations and signifying peace and prosperity. This imagery is echoed in the New Testament, where the gates of the New Jerusalem are described as being made of pearl, each gate a single pearl, symbolizing the glory and eternal security of God's kingdom (Revelation 21:21).

Cultural and Religious Context

Gates also played a role in the religious life of Israel. They were places where the law was read and taught, and where the people gathered for worship and communal activities. The gates of the temple, in particular, were significant in the religious observance of the Israelites. Psalm 100:4 exhorts the faithful to "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise," highlighting the gates as a threshold to divine presence and worship.

Conclusion

The gates of palaces in the biblical narrative are rich in meaning and significance. They are not only architectural marvels but also powerful symbols of authority, judgment, and divine presence. Through their depiction in Scripture, they offer insights into the cultural, religious, and political life of ancient Israel and the broader biblical world.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Esther 5:13
Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Son is of one Substance with the Father. ...
... achatergaston," meaning that the Word neither made nor created ... been said in another
passage: "The gates of the ... the rendering is this: "The palaces are fallen ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xiv the son is.htm

Palestine under Pagan Kings.
... They had twenty gates made of solid brass, and were ... He was afflicted with a madness
which made him think ... while toiling under the shadow of palaces, or flying ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/palestine under pagan kings.htm

The Conquest of Babylon.
... withdrew within the walls, shut the gates, and felt ... of modern times would have speedily
made a fatal ... gave themselves up, in their spacious palaces and gardens ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/cyrus the great/chapter viii the conquest of.htm

The Gospel Refuge.
... ye the gates, that the righteous (those made righteous through ... the same prayer,
"Open unto us the gates of righteousness ... God is known in all her Palaces for a ...
/.../macduff/the cities of refuge or the name of jesus/iii the gospel refuge.htm

The Gladness of the Man of Sorrows
... Lo, hell's gates are shut upon the saints, the grave is rifled of ... myrrh, and cassia,
and aloes, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 9 1863/the gladness of the man.htm

The Master of the Magicians.
... in length, and in them stood one hundred brazen gates. There were wonderful palaces,
and statues, and bridges, and ... but the king had these gardens made for his ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxxii the master of.htm

Isaiah's
... hand, that they may go into the gates of the ... their castles, And jackals in the pleasant
palaces: And her ... from the hard service wherein thou wast made to serve ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/x isaiahs.htm

Light through Darkness
... unto this day, and in Israel, and among other men; and hast made Thee a ... city was
soon to fall into the hand of the Chaldeans; its gates and palaces were to ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 38 light through darkness.htm

Concerning the Sabbatic River which Titus Saw as He was Journeying ...
... in the night time, and were about the gates, not of the upper palaces, but those ...
Whereupon the soldiery made an acclamation of joy to them immediately, and ...
/.../chapter v concerning the sabbatic.htm

Babylon.
... He made the city exceedingly grand and beautiful. ... There were one hundred brazen gates
in the wall, besides ... side of the river were two palaces, joined together ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xi babylon.htm