GATE

(1.) Of cities, as of Jerusalem (Jer. 37:13; Neh. 1:3;2:3;3:3), of Sodom (Gen. 19:1), of Gaza (Judg. 16:3).

(2.) Of royal palaces (Neh. 2:8).

(3.) Of the temple of Solomon (1-Kings 6:34, 1-Kings 6: 35; 2-Kings 18:16); of the holy place (1-Kings 6:31, 1-Kings 6: 32; Ezek. 41:23, Ezek. 41: 24); of the outer courts of the temple, the beautiful gate (Acts 3:2).

(4.) Tombs (Matt. 27:60).

(5.) Prisons (Acts 12:10;16:27).

(6.) Caverns (1-Kings 19:13).

(7.) Camps (Exo 32:26, Exo 32: 27; Heb. 13:12).

The materials of which gates were made were,

(1.) Iron and brass (Psa 107:16; Isa. 45:2; Acts 12:10).

(2.) Stones and pearls (Isa. 54:12; Rev. 21:21).

(3.) Wood (Judg. 16:3) probably.

At the gates of cities courts of justice were frequently held, and hence "judges of the gate" are spoken of (Deut. 16:18;17:8;21:19;25:6, 25: 7, etc.). At the gates prophets also frequently delivered their messages (Prov. 1:21;8:3; Isa. 29:21; Jer. 17:19, Jer. 17: 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 (Psa 118:19). "The gates of hell" (R.V., "gates of Hades") Matt. 16:18, Matt. 16: 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.