GATE

GATE (1.) Of cities, as of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 37=>13; Nehemiah 1=>3; 2=>3; 3=>3), of Sodom (Genesis 19=>1), of Gaza (Judges 16=>3). (2.) Of royal palaces (Nehemiah 2=>8). (3.) Of the temple of Solomon (1 Kings 6=>34, 35; 2 Kings 18=>16); of the holy place (1 Kings 6=>31, 32; Ezekiel 41=>23, 24); of the outer courts of the temple, the beautiful gate (Acts 3=>2). (4.) Tombs (Matthew 27=>60). (5.) Prisons (Acts 12=>10; 16=>27). (6.) Caverns (1 Kings 19=>13). (7.) Camps (Exodus 32=>26, 27; Hebrews 13=>12). The materials of which gates were made were, (1.) Iron and brass (Psalm 107=>16; Isaiah 45=>2; Acts 12=>10). (2.) Stones and pearls (Isaiah 54=>12; Revelation 21=>21). (3.) Wood (Judges 16=>3) probably. At the gates of cities courts of justice were frequently held, and hence “judges of the gate” are spoken of (Deuteronomy 16=>18; 17=>8; 21=>19; 25=>6, 7, etc.). At the gates prophets also frequently delivered their messages (Proverbs 1=>21; 8=>3; Isaiah 29=>21; Jeremiah 17=>19, 20; 26=>10). Criminals were punished without the gates (1 Kings 21=>13; Acts 7=>59). By the “gates of righteousness” we are probably to understand those of the temple (Psalm 118=>19). “The gates of hell” (R.V., “gates of Hades”) Matthew 16=>18, are generally interpreted as meaning the power of Satan, but probably they may mean the power of death, denoting that the Church of Christ shall never die.