Topical Bible: Horse Gate

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Horse Gate is a significant location mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the context of the city of Jerusalem. It is one of the gates of the city that played a crucial role in the daily life and defense of ancient Jerusalem.

Biblical References:

The Horse Gate is mentioned in the Book of Nehemiah, which details the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls after the Babylonian exile. Nehemiah 3:28 states, "Above the Horse Gate, the priests carried out repairs, each in front of his own house." This passage highlights the involvement of the priests in the reconstruction efforts, emphasizing the communal responsibility in restoring the city.

Additionally, the Horse Gate is referenced in 2 Chronicles 23:15 , which recounts the execution of Athaliah: "So they seized her as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate by the palace grounds, and there they put her to death." This event underscores the gate's proximity to the royal palace and its strategic importance.

Historical and Cultural Context:

The Horse Gate likely derived its name from its association with the horses used by the king's army and possibly for ceremonial purposes. In ancient Near Eastern cities, gates were not only entry points but also centers of commerce, legal proceedings, and military activity. The Horse Gate's location near the palace suggests it was a critical point for the movement of cavalry and chariots, essential for the defense and administration of the kingdom.

Theological Significance:

From a theological perspective, the Horse Gate can be seen as a symbol of strength and readiness for battle. In the biblical narrative, horses often represent military power and human reliance on strength apart from God. However, the rebuilding of the Horse Gate under Nehemiah's leadership signifies a restoration of order and divine favor, as the people of Jerusalem sought to reestablish their city under God's guidance.

The involvement of the priests in the repairs, as noted in Nehemiah, also reflects the integration of spiritual leadership in the physical and communal restoration of Jerusalem. This collaboration between religious and civic duties underscores the holistic approach to rebuilding the city, where spiritual renewal and physical reconstruction go hand in hand.

Archaeological Insights:

While specific archaeological evidence directly identifying the Horse Gate has not been conclusively found, excavations in Jerusalem have uncovered remnants of ancient city walls and gates that provide insight into the city's layout during the time of Nehemiah. These findings help scholars understand the strategic importance of various gates, including the Horse Gate, in the defense and daily life of Jerusalem.

In summary, the Horse Gate serves as a historical and theological marker within the biblical narrative, representing both the practical aspects of city life and the deeper spiritual renewal of the community under God's providence.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

Horse Gate

HORSE GATE

See JERUSALEM.

Library

The Girdle of the City. Nehemiah 3
... And all the valley of dead carcasses, and of ashes, and all the fields to the brook
Kidron, even to the corner of the horse-gate on the east, shall be Holiness ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 26 the girdle of.htm

Mount Olivet. The Mount of Olives, 2 Samuel 15:30
... Sion on the right hand, and Jerusalem on the left: the Gate of Waters against you,
leading to the Temple; on the left hand, Ophla and the Horse-gate. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 40 mount olivet the.htm

Some Other Memorable Places of the City.
... between the hill of the Upper City and the Lower, went down unto Siloam." The entrance
into this vale, probably, was eastward by the Horse-gate, and the street ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 35 some other memorable.htm

The Capture of Chrysostom
... He hurried back through the Roman Gate, hired a horse, galloped to Singon Street,
told the troubled servants that their master had been taken off by Count ...
/.../chapter xv the capture of.htm

The Young Titus
... Titus wheeled his horse and, plunging his spurs into its sides, fled on into the
open ... But the wary soldiers turned when the Roman had fled and the Gate of the ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter ix the young titus.htm

Greek and Jew
... The Sun Gate to the south of the city was therefore the most accessible ... the people
who had preceded him, Julian approached this portal, left his horse with the ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter viii greek and jew.htm

Queen Esther's Love for Her People
... Then the king said to Haman, "Make haste and take the garment and the horse, as
you have said, and do thus to Mordecai, the Jew, who sits in the king's gate. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/queen esthers love for her.htm

The Life of David Hackston of Rathillet.
... prisoners were taken to Edinburgh, where, by order of the council, they were received
by the magistrates at the water-gate, and he set on a horse's bare back ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of david hackston.htm

Diamond Woke Very Early in the Morning, and Thought what a Curious ...
... to horses; but she would have gone into a lion's den, not to say a horse's stall,
to ... A great fire of sunset burned on the top of the gate that led from the ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 3 diamond woke very.htm

The Strait Gate;
... (Revelation 6:16) And that those that stand crying at the gate of heaven ... Nay, do
not many make his Word, and his name, and his ways, a stalking-horse to their ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the strait gate.htm