Topical Bible: Gates of Cities: Conferences Held At

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In ancient biblical times, the gates of cities held significant importance not only as physical structures but also as central locations for social, economic, and judicial activities. The gates served as the primary entry and exit points of a city, but they were also much more than that. They were the hubs of community life, where elders and leaders gathered to discuss and make decisions on various matters affecting the city and its inhabitants.

Judicial and Legal Proceedings

The gates of cities were often the venue for judicial proceedings and legal matters. It was at the gates that elders and judges would sit to hear cases and render decisions. This practice is evident in several biblical passages. For instance, in the book of Deuteronomy, Moses instructs the Israelites on the importance of justice, stating, "Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly" (Deuteronomy 16:18). The gates were the designated places for such appointments and judgments.

Public Announcements and Proclamations

City gates were also the places where public announcements and proclamations were made. The open space and the constant flow of people made the gates ideal for disseminating information to the populace. In the book of Ruth, Boaz goes to the city gate to settle the matter of redeeming Naomi's land and marrying Ruth. He gathers ten elders of the city to serve as witnesses, demonstrating the gate's role as a place for public and legal transactions (Ruth 4:1-11).

Commerce and Trade

The gates of cities were bustling centers of commerce and trade. Merchants and traders would set up their stalls near the gates to sell their goods to travelers and city dwellers alike. The book of Proverbs highlights the industrious woman who "considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard" and "makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants" (Proverbs 31:16, 24). Such activities would have likely taken place at or near the city gates, where commerce was most active.

Social and Political Gatherings

In addition to legal and commercial activities, the gates of cities were venues for social and political gatherings. Leaders and elders would meet at the gates to discuss matters of governance and community welfare. The gates served as a forum for debate and decision-making, reflecting their role as centers of authority and influence. In the book of 2 Samuel, Absalom positions himself at the city gate to win the favor of the Israelites by addressing their grievances, illustrating the gate's function as a place of political engagement (2 Samuel 15:2-6).

Symbolic Significance

The gates of cities also held symbolic significance in biblical literature. They represented strength, security, and the well-being of the city. The psalmist declares, "Lift up your heads, O gates, be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may enter!" (Psalm 24:7), using the imagery of gates to convey the welcoming of God's presence and blessing.

In summary, the gates of cities in biblical times were multifaceted venues where conferences, legal proceedings, commerce, and social interactions took place. They were central to the life and governance of the community, serving as places where important decisions were made and where the pulse of the city could be felt.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 34:20
And Hamor and Shechem his son came to the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Samuel 3:27
And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

From the Close of the General Conference of 1792 to the Close of ...
... and New York, visiting all the principal cities and towns ... There were seven annual
conferences held this year: and the ... faith to open or shut the gates of heaven ...
/.../chapter 1 from the close.htm

Christian Cemeteries.
... Cities and villages built on alluvial or marshy soil, or ... been buried at a great distance
from the gates. ... days, and to have held their conferences and banquets ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/chapter vii christian cemeteries.htm

Justinian.
... The state in which several gates remain to this day ... battle over the grave of sunken
cities, in view ... The Pope, after further conferences with bishops present at ...
/.../allies/the formation of christendom volume vi/chapter iv justinian.htm

The General Conference of 1840
... of the Methodist Episcopal Church to the General Conference, to be held in Baltimore ...
not provided for by the ordinary funds of the annual conferences; and that ...
/.../chapter 15 the general conference.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... Assyrians, who for centuries past had held rule over ... northeast, and several lines
of walled cities"among which Dur ... small forts placed close to the main gates. ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm