Gates, doors

(1 Sam. 4:18). In cities enclosed by walls, one usually entered through gates of wood, or covered with iron or bronze (Acts 12:10). One also entered houses through gates, and there is reason to suppose that a small wicket-gate was sometimes built into the gates, so as not to have to open the whole gate whenever someone needed to enter the house (Acts 12:13). According to the testimony of Herodotus, Babylon had a hundred gates, all of which were made of bronze. In many Asian cities there are wide streets, paved partly or wholly, adapted for merchants and traders selling various daily necessities; on these streets were also found squares with shops and the tents of sellers.

They were especially numerous at the city gates, where a great many people usually gathered (2 Sam. 15:2; 2 Kings 6:1, and elsewhere). At the city gates judicial proceedings and punishments also took place (Deut. 17:5; Ruth 4:1–12; Amos 5:10, 12, 15); by them, too, free people would gather for rest or diversion. As a monument to this ancient eastern language and custom, there remains the designation of the Turkish court as the “Sublime Porte.” Since the right of ownership of the city gates belonged to the city itself, the word “gate” is sometimes used to denote strength, power, and might (Isa. 24:12 [as given]; Matt. 16:18).

“And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (the Church), said the Lord. City gates were carefully guarded by day and locked at night (Josh. 2:5–7; 1 Sam. 23:7). The gates of royal palaces, and even of private houses, were adorned with inscriptions from the Law of Moses (Deut. 6:9), and at them were found gatekeepers (1 Chron. 9:18, 19). Of the gates of the outer court of Herod’s Temple, nine were overlaid with gold and silver, and the tenth — the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:2) — was cast of Corinthian bronze and was considered, in value and beauty, superior to the other nine (Josephus, Wars of the Jews, V, 5, §3).