The city-gate in biblical times was a crucial element of urban life, serving as more than just an entryway into a city. It was a place of significant social, economic, judicial, and political activity. The city-gate was often a large, fortified structure that provided security and control over who entered and exited the city. It was typically located at the main entrance of the city wall and was a focal point for community life.

Social and Economic Hub

The city-gate was a bustling center of commerce and social interaction. Merchants and traders would set up their stalls near the gate to sell goods to travelers and locals alike. This is evident in the account of Abraham purchasing the cave of Machpelah from Ephron the Hittite, where the transaction took place at the city-gate of Hebron (Genesis 23:10-18). The gate served as a marketplace where people gathered to buy, sell, and exchange goods.

Judicial and Legal Functions

The city-gate was also the place where legal matters were addressed and justice was administered. Elders of the city would sit at the gate to hear disputes and make judgments. This is illustrated in the book of Ruth, where Boaz goes to the city-gate to settle the matter of redeeming Ruth and the property of her deceased husband (Ruth 4:1-11). The presence of witnesses at the gate ensured that legal transactions were conducted openly and with accountability.

Political and Administrative Center

In addition to its economic and judicial roles, the city-gate was a place of political activity. Leaders and officials would gather at the gate to discuss matters of governance and to make public announcements. The gate served as a venue for the king or city rulers to address the people, as seen in the account of King David, who sat at the city-gate to meet with his troops and the people after Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 19:8).

Symbol of Authority and Power

The city-gate symbolized authority and power, as control over the gate meant control over the city. In biblical literature, the gates of a city often represented its strength and security. For example, in the book of Psalms, 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), signifying the welcoming of divine presence and authority.

Spiritual and Prophetic Significance

The city-gate also held spiritual and prophetic significance. Prophets would often deliver their messages at the gates, where they could reach a wide audience. Jeremiah, for instance, was instructed by God to stand at the gate of the Lord's house and proclaim His message to the people of Judah (Jeremiah 7:2). The gate served as a place where spiritual truths were communicated and where the people were called to repentance and obedience.

In summary, the city-gate was a multifaceted institution in biblical times, integral to the social, economic, judicial, political, and spiritual life of the community. Its significance is reflected in numerous biblical narratives and teachings, underscoring its role as a vital component of ancient urban society.1580. ekkomizo -- to carry out (for burial)
... of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekkomizo Phonetic Spelling: (ek-kom-id'-zo) Short
Definition: I carry out Definition: I carry out (of the city gate for burial ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1580.htm - 6k

Elisha's Way of Treating Enemies
... Now, come, let us go and tell those in the palace." So they called the watchmen
at the city gate and said to them, "We went to the camp of the Arameans, but ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/elishas way of treating enemies.htm

The Story of David
... wanting to visit it must needs climb the long winding road that led from the plain
beneath, through olive groves and sheepfields, up to the city gate"a steep ...
//christianbookshelf.org/steedman/david the shepherd boy/the story of david.htm

A Talk About the Breath of God.
... He found out where the camp of the Galilean company was, and one night went out
of the city gate, across the Kedron bridge and up the slope of the Mount of ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xi a talk about.htm

Walls and Gates
... pitched on the sands of the flat desert. II. Praise is to be the city's gate.
As to the Church, this prophecy anticipates the Apostle's ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/walls and gates.htm

David's Sorrow.
... Then the king went up to the room over the city gate and wept, and as he
went he cried,. "O my son Absalom! my son, my son Absalom! ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxv davids sorrow.htm

Whether Christ Suffered in a Suitable Place?
... in the Temple. Therefore it seems that Christ ought to have suffered in the
Temple, and not outside the city gate. Objection 3: Further ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ suffered in a.htm

The Revolution of 1911
... the military forces, sent to restore peace in a neighbouring city, provided himself
with the badge of either party, that he might, at the city gate, affix that ...
/.../the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter xix the revolution of.htm

Why Paul Went to Macedonia
... In that city we spent some days. On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate
by the river, where we believed there was a place of prayer. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/why paul went to macedonia.htm

The Massacre
... terror without? It was the 12th of July, 399. At the city gate of the
Blachern?? suburb sat habitually an old beggar-woman. It was ...
/.../chapter xxxiii the massacre.htm

The Right to Privacy
... We hurriedly slipped out the back gate, around the pond, through the back streets,
and out the city gate. "Which way do you want to go?" my sister asked. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/williamson/have we no rights/chapter 5 the right to.htm

City-gate (1 Occurrence)
City-gate. City, City-gate. City's . Multi-Version Concordance
City-gate (1 Occurrence). Joshua 20:4 And he shall flee ...
/c/city-gate.htm - 6k

Side (4225 Occurrences)
... Within the walls the more important of the remains are three theaters near the harbors,
and streets with covered porticoes leading from the citygate to the ...
/s/side.htm - 10k

Talked (79 Occurrences)
... Acts 16:13 On the Sabbath we went beyond the citygate to the riverside, where we
had reason to believe that there was a place for prayer; and sitting down we ...
/t/talked.htm - 29k

Refuge (111 Occurrences)
... instituted. Open highways were to be maintained along, which the manslayer
might have an unobstructed course to the citygate. 3 ...
/r/refuge.htm - 41k

Broad (113 Occurrences)
... to destruction" (Matthew 7:13); the ostentatious piety of the Pharisees: "They make
broad (platuno, "widen") their phylacteries" (Matthew 23:5). See CITY; GATE...
/b/broad.htm - 40k

City's (2 Occurrences)

/c/city's.htm - 7k

Talk (164 Occurrences)
... Acts 16:13 On the Sabbath we went beyond the citygate to the riverside, where we
had reason to believe that there was a place for prayer; and sitting down we ...
/t/talk.htm - 36k

Philippians (2 Occurrences)
... but a little company of Jews gathered for Sabbath worship at "a place of prayer"
(proseuche, Acts 16:13), about a mile to the West of the citygate on the ...
/p/philippians.htm - 42k

City
... SeeHIGH PLACE. 3. Broad Place: The Broad Place (Nehemiah 8:1, 3, 16 Jeremiah 5:1)
seems to have been, usually, immediately inside the citygate. ...
/c/city.htm - 43k

Beyond (209 Occurrences)
... Acts 16:13 On the Sabbath we went beyond the citygate to the riverside, where we
had reason to believe that there was a place for prayer; and sitting down we ...
/b/beyond.htm - 42k

What is the significance of a city gate in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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

What is the significance of the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem? | GotQuestions.org

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