In ancient times, the city gate was the busiest place in the city. Near or just inside the gates, there were courtyards or a broadening of the street where much of the city''s social, business and legal interaction took place. There is where we find the reading of the Law and proclamations taking place (Josh. 20:4; II Chr. 32:6; Neh. 8:1,3); where justice was administered as the elders judged legal cases and business transactions (Dt. 16:18; II Sam. 15:2, Amos 5:10-15); where news was exchanged and discussed (Gen. 19:1), and local gossip was spread (Ps. 69:12). It was a place where markets flourished, e.g. the Fish Gate (Neh. 3:3) or the Sheep Gate (Neh. 3:1) in Jerusalem, and where trading centers for imported items were established.

Prophets and priests delivered admonitions and pronouncements at the gates (Isa. 29:21; Amos 5:10: Jer. 17:19, etc.). Criminals were punished just outside the gates (I Kgs. 21:10, Acts 7:58). The city gate was even the place where one could attract the attention of the sovereign or dignitary (II Sam. 19:8; I Kgs. 22:10; Est. 2:19,21; 3:2). It was where strangers who were visiting the city passed the night, if they had no place to stay.

To be chosen as an elder to sit at the gate of the city was an honorable position (Prov. 31:23; Dan 2:49), although it became a curse for Lot, who chose to be an elder at the gate of Sodom where he compromised his stand for the Lord (Gen. 19:1).

Defending The City Often Began At The Gates

Since the gates of a city were the only way in or out of the city, the large doors of the gateway, which were made of metal and wood (Ps. 107:16; Isa. 45:2) were secured at night with iron or wooden cross bars (I Kgs. 4:13; Neh. 3:13) for the protection of the inhabitants.

The main gate of each city was large enough for the entry of chariots and carts. It was carefully designed and built to deter the entrance of enemy soldiers, as this was the most vulnerable place in the walls of a city. The gates were often flanked by towers (II Sam. 18:24, 33) on which watchmen stood, day and night.

Some gates were built in a zigzag design, like the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem. This caused a man on horseback to slow down and open the defensive stance of his body as he maneuvered his horse through the passage, making it easier for defenders to kill him.

Other gates allowed straight passage into the city, like those of Solomon''s great walled cities. They had multiple chambers in the passageway from which soldiers could attack intruders as a first line of defense, e.g. David awaited Absalom''s army in one of these chambers (I Sam. 18:24). Most gates had vertical and horizontal openings, above and around the doors, through which to throw boiling liquids, spears, rocks, arrows and other sharp objects upon enemy soldiers. The Lord promised strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate (Isa. 28:6).

The Gate Signified Authority In the Bible, the gate was more than the entrance and exit to a city. Figuratively, it represented the place of authority and the glory of the city (Isa. 3:26; Jer. 14:2). Like "fringes of the garment," which represented the authority of a man, so too, the gate represented the place of authority of a city, where the elders sat.

Scripture even refers to supernatural authority as the "gates of heaven" (Gen. 28:17) and the "gates of hell" (Mt. 16:18).

The biblical term, "to be within the gates," referred to being under the authority of the elders of the city who presided in the gates (Dt. 15:7; 31:12,13).

In battle, to "possess the gates" is a biblical term meaning to possess the city (Gen. 22:17; 24:60).

In the story of Samson, he took this quite literally. In his day, Israel was under the control of the Philistines, a cruel and hateful people. Samson went down to the Philistine city of Gaza, where they had laid a trap for him and waited in the city gate to kill him. At midnight Samson tore their city gates, doorposts and cross bars from the walls of the city, (the symbol of their authority), and carried them off to Hebron, an Israelite city.

This was a symbolic act of triumph for Israel and of humiliation for the Philistines (Jud. 16:2-3).

The Israelites were instructed to establish this authority with judges at the city gates (Dt. 16:18), as a place of judgment to insure justice and obedience to God''s laws by the people. Another function of the elders at the gate was to protect the city and their people from the outside world. The gate was the most vulnerable point in these ancient, walled cities...