Topical Bible: Gates of Cities: Courts of Justice Held At

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Topical Encyclopedia

In ancient Israel, 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 venue for the administration of justice, where elders and judges would convene to hear cases and render decisions. This practice is well-documented throughout the Old Testament, reflecting the integral role of city gates in maintaining order and justice within the community.

Judicial Function of City Gates

The city gates were more than mere entry points; they were the hub of civic life. It was at these gates that the elders of the city would sit to adjudicate disputes and legal matters. The Book of Deuteronomy provides insight into this practice: "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). This directive underscores the importance of local governance and the role of city gates as centers of judicial activity.

Biblical Examples

Several biblical narratives illustrate the judicial function of city gates. In the Book of Ruth, Boaz goes to the city gate to settle the matter of redeeming Ruth and the property of her deceased husband. "Boaz went to the gate and sat down there. Soon the kinsman-redeemer of whom Boaz had spoken came along, and Boaz said, 'Come over here, my friend, and sit down.' So he went over and sat down" (Ruth 4:1). This account highlights the gate as a place where legal transactions and decisions were publicly witnessed and confirmed.

Similarly, in the account of Absalom's rebellion, Absalom positions himself at the city gate to intercept those seeking justice from King David, thereby undermining the king's authority and swaying public opinion (2 Samuel 15:2-6). This narrative demonstrates the strategic importance of the gates as a place where justice was sought and where influence could be exerted.

Role of Elders and Judges

The elders and judges who sat at the gates were tasked with upholding the law and ensuring justice was served. Their presence at the gates symbolized the accessibility of justice to all members of the community. The Book of Proverbs emphasizes the wisdom and discernment required of those who judged at the gates: "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy" (Proverbs 31:8-9). This passage reflects the moral and ethical responsibilities of those who held court at the gates.

Cultural and Religious Significance

The practice of holding court at the city gates was deeply embedded in the cultural and religious life of ancient Israel. It was a tangible expression of the covenantal relationship between God and His people, where justice and righteousness were to be upheld in accordance with divine law. The gates served as a reminder of the community's commitment to living in obedience to God's commandments and ensuring that justice was accessible to all.

In summary, the gates of cities in biblical times were not only architectural features but also vital centers for the administration of justice. They were places where legal matters were addressed, disputes were resolved, and the principles of justice and righteousness were upheld in the sight of the community and before God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 16:18
Judges and officers shall you make you in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, throughout your tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Samuel 15:2
And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, Of what city are you? And he said, Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Proverbs 22:22,23
Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Instructed in the Law of God
... wall of Jerusalem had been rebuilt and the gates set up ... It was proclaimed "in all
their cities, and in Jerusalem ... and in their courts, and in the courts of the ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 56 instructed in the.htm

The Persecutions of the Church.
... as the pagan oaths administered in the courts of justice ... made throughout the streets
of the cities, and men ... The city gates were guarded that none might escape ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter ii the persecutions of.htm

Justinian.
... The state in which several gates remain to this day still show his ... the bishops began
to take part in the courts of justice of their own cities, as well ...
/.../allies/the formation of christendom volume vi/chapter iv justinian.htm

St. Gregory the Great.
... he who day by day guarded the gates of defenceless ... reigned in the discontented or
independent cities of Gaul ... They placed her bishops in their courts of justice ...
/.../allies/the formation of christendom volume vi/chapter v st gregory the.htm

Fast-Day Service
... We'll crowd thy gates with thankful songs,. ... Shall fill thy courts with sounding praise. ...
Thou didst rain hell out of heaven upon the cities of the plain. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/fast-day service.htm

The Doctrine of the Last Things.
... differ in spiritual gains and rewards (ten cities, five cities). ... In courts of justice
in those days a black ... Its Gates (21:15, 21): guarded by angels; names on ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrine of the last.htm

Causes of the Reformation
... at the expense of the lower nobility, the cities, and the ... of obtaining justice in
the ordinary courts of law ... abuses which flourished at the very gates of their ...
/.../chapter i causes of the.htm

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... in which he had been accustomed to sit and administer justice. ... and it was there that
her sacred cities"Tyana, Venasa ... with one or other of the courts on the ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm

Jewish Homes
... The gates opened upon large squares, on which the ... the streets were wider than those
of modern Eastern cities. ... to have windows looking into the courts or rooms ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 6 jewish homes.htm

India's Ills and England's Sorrows
... attended with all the horrid guilt of the cities of the ... such places; they seem to
be the gates of hell ... was bravely plaintive, sitting down in the courts of the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/indias ills and englands sorrows.htm