Gates of Jerusalem: High Gate of Benjamin
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Topical Encyclopedia
The High Gate of Benjamin is one of the notable gates mentioned in the biblical accounts of Jerusalem, particularly in the context of the city's fortifications and its significance in the life of the people of Judah. This gate is referenced in the Old Testament, providing insight into its historical and spiritual importance.

Biblical References

The High Gate of Benjamin is specifically mentioned in the book of Jeremiah. In Jeremiah 20:2 , it is recorded: "he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin at the house of the LORD." This passage highlights the gate's proximity to the temple, indicating its importance as a place of public assembly and judicial activity.

Historical Context

The High Gate of Benjamin was likely situated on the northern side of Jerusalem, aligning with the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. This tribe held a significant position among the tribes of Israel, and its association with the gate underscores the gate's prominence. The gate served as a critical point of entry and exit for those traveling to and from the northern regions, including the tribal lands of Benjamin.

Function and Significance

In ancient cities, gates were more than mere entry points; they were centers of economic, social, and judicial activity. The High Gate of Benjamin would have been a bustling hub where merchants, travelers, and city officials converged. It was a place where legal matters were addressed, as seen in the account of Jeremiah, where the prophet was publicly punished at this location.

The gate's proximity to the temple also suggests its role in religious observances and gatherings. It would have been a place where people prepared to enter the sacred precincts of the temple, making it a site of spiritual preparation and reflection.

Symbolic Meaning

Gates in biblical literature often carry symbolic meanings, representing transition, judgment, and protection. The High Gate of Benjamin, by virtue of its name and location, symbolizes the connection between the tribe of Benjamin and the city of Jerusalem. It serves as a reminder of the tribe's historical role and its integration into the life of the city.

Archaeological Insights

While specific archaeological evidence directly identifying the High Gate of Benjamin is limited, ongoing excavations in Jerusalem continue to shed light on the city's ancient fortifications. These findings help to contextualize the biblical descriptions and enhance our understanding of the city's layout during the time of the prophets.

Conclusion

The High Gate of Benjamin stands as a testament to the rich historical and spiritual tapestry of Jerusalem. Its mention in the scriptures invites reflection on the city's past and the enduring legacy of its gates as places of gathering, judgment, and worship.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Jeremiah 20:2
Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 37:13
And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he took Jeremiah the prophet, saying, You fall away to the Chaldeans.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
... and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out ... And had a wall
great and high, and had ... And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, every several ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy city or the.htm

How Xerxes the Son of Darius was Well Disposed to the Jews; as ...
... and his son Eliasib succeeded in the high priesthood.6 ... while I hear that the walls
of Jerusalem, the city ... down to the ground, and that its gates are consumed by ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 5 how xerxes the.htm

The Tabernacle of the Most High
... and there shall it stand for ever"the new Jerusalem"the temple ... We'll crowd thy gates
with thankful songs ... stone may partake of the blessing of the Most High! ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the tabernacle of the most.htm

The Desolations of the Lord, the Consolation of his Saints
... as they think, upon a rock, against which the gates of heaven ... of the gospel, to occupy
the place high over the ... blood, if we wept like him over Jerusalem, if we ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the desolations of the lord.htm

Acts IX
... that he might take them bound to the high priests? ... in which he had played a part
in Jerusalem; but his ... was known to Saul; and they watched the gates, day and ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts ix.htm

Book 5 Footnotes
... mean, that this was revealed to the high priest by an ... to the old name Salem, Peace,
will be Jerusalem; and since ... Gates being in cities, as well as at the temple ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 5 footnotes.htm

Hymns of Hope and Consolation.
... is missed even in the rich cantos of "Jerusalem the Golden ... Mrs. Gates complied"and
the sequel of the hymn she ... has flowed from the lips of High Churchmen, and ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter xiv hymns of hope.htm

And ii.
... not limiting, in the individualized description in ver.12 sqq., the high and lofty ...
is to extend to Judah, yea, even unto the gates of my city of Jerusalem. ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i and ii.htm

Ancestors of the Blessed virgin
... only to the holiest of the high priests and ... Anna arrived in Jerusalem also on the
fourth day of ... of great cities, towers, palaces, thrones, gates, gardens, and ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/i ancestors of the blessed.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... hand, to cut off the people at Jerusalem, for the ... Lord's house, the rock against
which the gates of hell ... Let none but Christ be the high-priest and sacrifice ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

Resources
What is the significance of the twelve gates in Revelation 21? | GotQuestions.org

What was/is the importance of the gates of Jerusalem? | GotQuestions.org

What are the gates of hell? | GotQuestions.org

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Subtopics

Gates

Gates of Christ

Gates of Cities

Gates of Cities: Battering Rams Used Against

Gates of Cities: Chief Places of Concourse

Gates of Cities: Chief Points of Attack in War

Gates of Cities: Conferences Held At

Gates of Cities: Councils of State Held At

Gates of Cities: Courts of Justice Held At

Gates of Cities: Criminals Punished At

Gates of Cities: Custom of Sitting At, in the Evening, Alluded To

Gates of Cities: Experienced officers Placed Over

Gates of Cities: Idolatrous Rites Performed At

Gates of Cities: Land Redeemed At

Gates of Cities: Land Sold At

Gates of Cities: Markets Held At

Gates of Cities: Often Razed and Burned

Gates of Cities: Proclamations Made At

Gates of Cities: Public Censure Passed At

Gates of Cities: Public Commendation Given At

Gates of Cities: Shut at Night-Fall

Gates of Cities: Troops Reviewed At, Going to War

Gates of Death

Gates of Hell

Gates of Jerusalem: Corner Gate

Gates of Jerusalem: Dung Gate

Gates of Jerusalem: Fish Gate

Gates of Jerusalem: Gate of Ephraim

Gates of Jerusalem: Gate of Miphkad

Gates of Jerusalem: Gate of the Fountain

Gates of Jerusalem: High Gate of Benjamin

Gates of Jerusalem: Horse Gate

Gates of Jerusalem: Old Gate

Gates of Jerusalem: Sheep Gate

Gates of Jerusalem: Valley Gate

Gates of Jerusalem: Water Gate

Gates of Righteousness

Gates of Salvation

Gates of the Gospel

Gates of the Grave

Gates of the People of a City

Gates of the Powers of Hell (Hades)

Gates of the Temple: Called Gates of Righteousness

Gates of the Temple: Called Gates of the Lord

Gates of the Temple: Called Gates of Zion

Gates of the Temple: Charge of, Given by Lot

Gates of the Temple: Frequented by Beggars

Gates of the Temple: Levites the Porters of

Gates of the Temple: One Specially Beautiful

Gates of the Temple: Overlaid With Gold

Gates of the Temple: The Pious Israelites Delighted to Enter

Gates of the Temple: The Treasury Placed At

Gates: (Of Heaven) Access to God

Gates: (Of Hell) Satan's Power

Gates: (Of the Grave) Death

Gates: (Strait) the Entrance to Life

Gates: (Wide) the Entrance to Ruin

Gates: Bodies of Criminals Exposed to View At

Gates: Carcase of Sin-Offering Burned Without

Gates: Closed at Night

Gates: Closed on the Sabbath

Gates: Conferences on Public Affairs

Gates: Criminals Generally Punished Without

Gates: Design of

Gates: Double Doors

Gates: Fastened With Bars of Iron

Gates: Guards At

Gates: Holding Courts of Justice

Gates: Jails Made in the Towers of

Gates: Made of Brass

Gates: Made of Iron

Gates: Made of Wood

Gates: Made to Camps

Gates: Made to Cities

Gates: Made to Houses

Gates: Made to Palaces

Gates: Made to Prisons

Gates: Made to Rivers

Gates: Made to Temples

Gates: Often Two-Leaved

Gates: Place for Public Concourse

Gates: Punishment of Criminals Outside of

Gates: Religious Services Held At

Gates: Symbolical

Gates: The Law Read At

Gates: The Open Square of, a Place for Idlers

Gates: The Place for the Transaction of Public Business, Announcement of Legal Transactions

Gates: Thrones of Kings At

Related Terms

Gateways (6 Occurrences)

Manservant (14 Occurrences)

Man-servant (18 Occurrences)

Load (22 Occurrences)

Bars (50 Occurrences)

Levite (43 Occurrences)

Maid-servant (49 Occurrences)

Oppress (57 Occurrences)

Maidservants (28 Occurrences)

Menservants (19 Occurrences)

Shaaraim (3 Occurrences)

West (110 Occurrences)

Bar (27 Occurrences)

Aliens (53 Occurrences)

Chooses (36 Occurrences)

Maidservant (73 Occurrences)

Gatekeepers (38 Occurrences)

Fatherless (44 Occurrences)

Fenced (61 Occurrences)

4500 (5 Occurrences)

Orphan (25 Occurrences)

Overhead (4 Occurrences)

Inscribed (20 Occurrences)

Doorposts (15 Occurrences)

Derbe (4 Occurrences)

Doorkeeper (8 Occurrences)

Middle (169 Occurrences)

Massive (4 Occurrences)

Partition (4 Occurrences)

Allotment (24 Occurrences)

Rejoiced (83 Occurrences)

South (170 Occurrences)

Reeds (27 Occurrences)

Fortresses (45 Occurrences)

Guards (42 Occurrences)

Doorkeepers (37 Occurrences)

Walls (152 Occurrences)

Porters (34 Occurrences)

Ruins (84 Occurrences)

Foreigner (99 Occurrences)

Alien (102 Occurrences)

Entry (36 Occurrences)

Widow (71 Occurrences)

East (228 Occurrences)

Treasury (25 Occurrences)

Stationed (49 Occurrences)

Female (95 Occurrences)

Ceremonially (38 Occurrences)

Descendants (326 Occurrences)

Doors (149 Occurrences)

Unquenchable (5 Occurrences)

Openings (27 Occurrences)

Jupiter (3 Occurrences)

Lusteth (6 Occurrences)

Guarding (16 Occurrences)

Gazelle (12 Occurrences)

Woolen (6 Occurrences)

Watches (23 Occurrences)

Inflict (25 Occurrences)

Foundations (49 Occurrences)

Transparent (7 Occurrences)

Trusting (45 Occurrences)

Trusted (82 Occurrences)

Trustedst (3 Occurrences)

Talmon (5 Occurrences)

Roebuck (5 Occurrences)

Respectively (2 Occurrences)

Roe (21 Occurrences)

Recount (39 Occurrences)

Entrances (6 Occurrences)

Desireth (26 Occurrences)

Door-posts (11 Occurrences)

Death-shade (16 Occurrences)

Dragged (19 Occurrences)

Kine (24 Occurrences)

Praises (66 Occurrences)

Pearl (5 Occurrences)

Palaces (37 Occurrences)

Gates of Jerusalem: Gate of the Fountain
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