Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ./Yeshua HaMashiach
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
keep you in His Shalom!
Reminder of a recent post that apparently was missed by many..
The word Shiloh is used 32 times in the Old Testament to refer to a location—a city and one other time to refer to the Messiah.
Scholars say there is some uncertainty about the Hebrew text of the phrase translated
…until he comes to whom it belongs.
The KJV translates these words …
until Shiloh comes, and
Shiloh
is usually understood as
Rest or Rest-bringer,
a name for the Messiah/Mashiach
who brings rest/shalom for our souls.
Jesus/Yeshua our Sar Shalom – Prince of Peace.
The NIV translation understands the Hebrew word to be a combination of two elements:
‘…he to whom it (the ruler’s scepter) belongs.’
The Messiah alone deserves to rule as King;
He is the only one who
reconciled a world of sinners to a
Holy God.
The Kingship belongs to the one with the legal right. Jesus/Yeshua had the legal right to kingly power in fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy. The prophecy recorded in the book of Ezekiel 38 & 39 is about the time period after the thousand-year-literal rule of Yeshua haMashiach/Lord Jesus Christ from the throne of David in Jerusalem. The children of Israel, who are gathered from the nations, and become a nation again, will live victoriously in the center of the earth.
Onkelos, a highly respected Jewish translation of the Torah, translates this phrase
until Shiloh comes
as
until the Messiah comes,
interpreting the word “shiloh” as “The Messiah” and leaving no doubt who “shiloh” is referring to.
Others believe that this phrase is referring to the place “Shiloh” which was the residence of the Tabernacle during the times of the judges. Joshua 18:1.
The only difference is that the placeShilois spelled slightly different, שלה,without a yod. There are also those who believe that the final letter of the wordshiloh contained the letter vav instead of the letter heywhich would make the word possessive, meaningbelonging to himand referring to the Messiah. Still others believe that shiloh is referring to an embryo or fetus (Irwin, Jonas. Onkelos on the Torah. Genesis. p. 336).The word forembryo or fetus in Hebrew isשליל – she’lil.
Although we don’t know exactly what the word “shiloh”means we do know that all of the above definitions hold true for Jesus/Yeshua: He came as the fulfillment of the long awaited Messiah/Mashiach, His coming brought the presence of God /YHWH to earth, He belonged to the Father as His Son, and He came into the world as an embryo/a baby, through the miraculous conception/overshadowing of the virgin Marys rachem/womb by His Ruach HaKodesh/Spirit of Holiness:
This post has a place here, not only because of the season but also within the posts about the gates of Jerusalem and Hezekiah who was rebuilding them along with the walls. Specifically in regards to the Fountain Gate.
the Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Kol-Hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofing it over and putting its doors and bolts and bars in place. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Siloam, by the King’s Garden, as far as the steps going down from the City of David. Nehemiah 3:15 NIV – 4th c.B.C.
To tie this in with prophecy and with Messiah, the verses in Jeremiah declare:
O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters. Jeremiah 17:13 KJV – 6th c.B.C.
Link this with “She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” – which is the good news of Matthew 1:21
and
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
The scepter (shevet/shebet /sharbit)
will not depart from Judah until Shiloh comes
and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
Here, Jacob/Yaakov is referring to a person,
the person who would bring peace/shalom and tranquility.
In Hebrew Genesis 49:10 reads
lo yasoor SHEVET Me Yahudah oohme CHAKAK mebein ragala¨ v AD ki yahvoh Shiloh Veloh yechat amim
Shevet (SHE-vet) n.
Rod; Staff; Tribe (of Israel);
sceptera ceremonial or emblematic staff held by a royal representative that represents divine power
Genesis 49:10 HEB: לֹֽא־ יָס֥וּר שֵׁ֙בֶט֙ מִֽיהוּדָ֔ה וּמְחֹקֵ֖ק NAS: The scepter shall not depart KJV: The sceptre shall not depart INT: Nor depart the scepter Judah the ruler’s
Some say that between stick and tribe
the term meant scepter.
The Hebrew word for scepter –
sharvit. שרביט –
may have derived from shevet as well.
שרביט
8275sharbit
Original Word: שַׁרְבִיט.
Transliteration: sharbit.
Phonetic Spelling: shar-beet’
Definition: a scepter.
7626 shebet: rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe
Original Word: שֵׁבֶט Transliteration: shebet Phonetic Spelling: shay’-bet
According to Webster’s Dictionary Scepter means:
A staff borne/carried by a king
as an emblem of his royal authority.
The name Shiloh would have derived from
shālâ, “to be at ease,”
and would mean something like
the peace-giver.
However, there is a great debate which continues to this day concerning the exact meaning of the word; as others believe it may actually mean,
the rightful Messiah, or
the Messiah of righteousness.
Ezekiel 21:27 echoes the meaning of Genesis 49:10 too. Those who read Genesis assumed that royal power belonged forever to the house of David which was the tribe of Judah—the tribe Yeshua/Jesus descended from.
Shiloh
was also a physical place
it was located a little northeast of the center of Ephraim.
In 12 th -11 th century BC, the Israelites built the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant rested in the city of Shiloh. Here, it rested for three centuries where the tribes of Israel would visit for feasts or peace offerings.
From the time Israel entered the land until the time of the prophet Samuel, the Ark of the Covenant remained in the Tabernacle at Shiloh. This was also the central location where the land was divided up into the 12 sections for the 12 tribes. This can be found in Joshua 18. It was the background for Hannah when she visited the tabernacle to pour out her heart to God, begging Him for a child—whom God gave her Samuel referenced in 1 Samuel 1:1-28 ; 3:21.
But as the story goes, the hearts of God’s people grew cold too. They turned their backs on God and after many warnings, God handed them over to the Philistines. After these warnings from the Lord to turn back to Him, the Ark was then captured by the Philistines and God left His dwelling place,
“He abandoned the dwelling place at Shiloh, the tent which He had pitched among men, and gave up His strength to captivity and His glory into the hand of the adversary,” Psalm 78:60-61 .
The Ark was captured, and the city was destroyed 1 Samuel 4:10-11. Centuries later, the Prophet Jeremiah points God’s people back to the city because the people have a new temple. The new temple built by Solomon was so magnificent that they put their faith and security in it and not in their God.
So, in Jeremiah 7:12 he was instructed to give them a warning,
“Go now to My place which was in Shiloh . . . and see what I did to it,”
But God’s people refuse to listen and 20 years later, the Babylonian’s destroyed Solomon’s temple.
Shiloh is a representation of what happens when we choose to put our sense of security in a building and physical things we can see and touch.
It also reveals how time and again, God’s people fell away from their complete devotion to the Lord. Their hearts became lukewarm towards the things of God and eventually their lives ended in total corruption.
Instead of heeding God’s Word, they were overcome by their enemies and became enslaved to those who had won a victory over them.
The term Shiloh was understood by the Talmudic authorities as referring to Messiah. This was interpreted to mean that, the authority invested in Judah as divine regent would remain until the coming of Messiah. The Mashiach.
If we understand the royalty of Judah was to be invested in the sanhedrin after Zedekiah, the last independent king of Judah was deposed then, the scepter would have departed from Judah in AD 6-7 after the Romans installed a procurator as the authority in Judah this replacing the sanhedrin.
However the prophecy of Jacob/Yaakov did not fail because the Mashiach/Messiah had come,
and was in their midst as Yeshua/Jesus of Nazareth.
In other words Yeshua/Jesus is indeed King of the Jews.
Although at present He is not literally physically reigning on Davids throne; this we believe will occur at His 2nd coming when He returns to Jerusalem at the end of this present age to establish the kingdom of God upon the earth.
Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
These prophetic statements were made by Jacob/Israel when he pronounced blessings on his sons just prior to his death,
Here we read that he pronounced one of the greatest over Judah second only to that spoken over Joseph.
The word to Y’hudah/Judah speaks of his resolve and strength, his passion, readiness and his headship.
Not only does Jacob/Yaakov give a blessing to his son Judah/Y’hudah, but the blessing turns into a prophecy, when he continues to bless his son, he prophecies how the Messiah/Mashiach, the coming savior, will come into power from this line and will continue to rule forever. This Ruler will then be honored by all nations and the scepter in this passage symbolizes that power.
This passage ties into the New Testament as Yeshua/Jesus refers to Himself as, Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach whom you have sent John 17:3 . Romans 15:12 references this passage as a ruler who“arises to rule the Gentiles, and Paul also writes in Ephesians 2:14 that Christ, Himself is our peace.
All three of these passages have roots in Shiloh. v10 is referenced in Isaiah 11:1 , the seed,
John 17:3, the sent,
Ephesians 2:14 , the peaceable or prosperous one.
Prior to the coming of the Savior, this blessing was a declaration to the other tribes that Judah/Y’hudah would continue to lead in strength and power and be a symbol of authority. Even after the children of Israel were captured and lived in captivity in Babylon, they continued to review these scriptures as promises for their future Messiah.
Following the reference to beginning and end/ alef and tav /alpha and omega /genesis to Revelation ….
we must never forget that in the not too distant future, the Meshiach/Messiah will come in judgment.
He will wash His garments in wine, and His robes in the blood of grapes (49:11b). This is also depicted in Isaiah 63:1-8where he saw the Messiah returning at Bozrah with His garments stained crimson.
And when Messiah/Mashiach returns, we read that we will return with Him. The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
During His thousand-year reign, He will rule the nations with an
iron scepter.
He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of ADONAI, God of heaven’s armies.
Revelation 19:14-15.
Psalm 2:8-9.
At that time Yeshua/Jesuswill be the King who will hold theiron scepter. He will swiftly judge all sin and instantly put down any rebellion. Using the same imagery of ruling with an iron scepter, Yeshua promised that believers would rule under Him in the Messianic Kingdom:
To him who overcomes and does My will to the end, I will give authority over the Gentile nations. He shall rule them with an iron scepter and he will dash them to pieces like pottery, just as I have received authority from My Father (Revelation 2:26-27).
Therefore, because we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation belonging to God 1Peter 2:9, we will be priests of God and of Messiah and will reign with Him for a thousand years Revelation 20:6. Believers now serve as priests by worshiping the Father and leading others to the knowledge of Him.
Yaakov/Jacob/Israel declared that Judah/Y’hudah and his descendents would lead the sons of Yisrael/Israel and that the scepter will not depart or turn aside from him however, the ruling staff does not belong to Judah/ Y’hudah he is merely its caretaker…until Shiloh comes.
Jacob/Ya’akov prophesied that: The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet 49:10a.
The scepter was the symbol of royalty, and emphasizedJudah’sright to rule. In its earliest form the scepter was a long staff, which the king held in his hand when speaking publicly, and when he sat upon his throne he rested the base between his feet.
So God declares that
the only tribe
that would have the scepter, or the right to rule would be Judah/Y’hudah.
All the kings would come from Judah; any king that our fatherhas designated to rule the Jews must come from the tribe ofJudah. In the then far future, this passage points to the return of Yeshua Ha’Meshiach/JesusChrist Who comes to set up His Kingdom for the milleninial reign. At that time, He will have the right to rule, and the obedience of the Goyim/Heathen/Gentile nations will be His.
Until He comes to whom [obedience] belongs; and it is He whom the [Gentile nations] will obey 49:10b.
As Y’hudah/Judah would be master of Israel/Yisrael, Shiyloh the one to whom authority belongs will be the master of all.The obedience of the peoples will be His. In the same way that Judah/y’hudah would be praised among Israel /Yisrael the master too who is of Yhudah/Judah will receive praise. Recall the name Judah means praise.
For an explanation we must go to the beginning/the genesis because Jesus/Yeshua said
I am the beginning and the end, the alef and tav
and we need to remind ourselves that
He is the living water.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. – John 1:1-2
The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:2
6 Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”
9 Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so.
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 1:26-27
Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. Genesis 2:10 NKJV
For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream…
Isaiah 66:12
Connecting us to the
request made by Yeshua/Jesus to the woman at
Yaakov/Jacob’s well – John 4:7
This is the same Yeshua/Jesus born in Bethlehem/Beit Lechem just 30 years earlier and the same Yeshua/Jesus who
was with God in the beginning.
The bread/lechem from Heaven.
Yeshua/Jesus asks us one thing,
do we do it, or do we question Him?
9 “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?”
Yeshua/Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would ask him, and he would give you living water.” John 4:10
When encounter the sinless Son of Man/Son of God – Yeshua/Jesus wherever that may be, possibly a place of suffering along the road /WAY of life/chaim. Will we ask Him for living water?
Jesus/Yeshua walked on water and He also calmed the waters of the stormy sea of Galilee.
The Heavenly Father created everything, He gave life to dust and then walked personally alongside the faithful throughout all the generations. He IS the source of the spring of Eden/, the river of life/chaim and the pool of peace/shalom in Jerusalem/Yerushalyim.
Shiloh or Siloam flows from Him and to Him.
He IS the way of salvation leading us to the living water.
The Pool of Siloam/Shiloh found in John 9
Now as Yeshua/Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth…
7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” which is translated, Sent.
When The Lord touches us and commands, Go and do this or that. Will we obey Him or do we question Him?
The religious elite questioned Him, but the blind man obeyed. Though blind, he could see but they were the real blind ones.
“Do you believe in the Son of God?”
36 He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”
37 And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.”
38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.
And Jesus said,
“For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”
John 9:39 NKJV
Then Shiloh was sent into the world, His life began in a feeding trough and He fed the multitudes and is still feeding the hungry today.
Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. – Luke 2:11
Thirty some years later He returns to Jerusalem – the Lamb of God in the Person of Jesus.
Luke 19: Now he came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:
Blessed is the Kingwho comesin the name of the Lord.Peace in heavenand glory in the highest heaven!
“Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory? ” Luke 24:26
Absolutely or we would be without hope.
We worship the Christ of the manger of Christmas
ONLY
because of the Lamb of God
was sent to the Cross for our sins.
Shalom/Peace I leave with you.
My shalom/peace I give to you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.
John 14:27
May the Lord bless our worship of Messiah Yeshua/Jesus,
this season while remembering that we are celebrating…
our gift of
Shiloh
May we submit to the rulership of Shiyloh the Messiah Yeshua/Jesus even as we eagerly await His arrival. Let us look forward to the day when He will take up the scepter permanently.
At this season we are reminded Messiah came.
He has fulfilled to date prophesies declared 1000’s of years ago. We await eagerly the season of His return when He will reign with Y’hudas scepter.
Shiyloh, You are the ruler of our lives and of Israel and of all peoples. We bless you and thank you for taking away our sins and all our fear. You feed us with Your Word and comfort us with Your Spirit of Holiness as you speak life/chaim to our hearts and peace/shalom to our minds. Deliverer and Ruler, King Messiah, You are worthy of all praise and indeed…..
Please don’t leave this page before making certain you are His
and are truly born from above.
Know of a certainty that Jesus/Yeshua is
your Redeemer, Savior, Lord
and soon returning King
and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.
It’s all about Life and Relationship, not Religion.
NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..
SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry.
I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’ name. Amen.
A GATE gives access to the City; it is a seat of power, authority and influence; 1 Chronicles 9:22-23.
We enter God’s City through these Gates;
Matthew 5:14; Hebrews 11:10; 12:22
These Gates reflect the restoration of Kingdom Principles in the lives of God’s people.
The Restoration of the 12 Gates reveals the rebuilding of an original structure: God’s Divine Order and Government;
Gen. 35:22; 1 Kings 4:7; Matt. 10:1; Rev. 12:1; 21:12-21
Last post was a look atThe SHEEP Gate –
The principle of conversion, repentance, atonement, new birth.
Nehemiah.3:1-2; John 3:3
Sheep enter through the DoorJesus/Yeshua and become part of God’s flock; John 10:7-16
Jesus/Yeshua seeks after sheep who wander and go astray;Isaiah 53:6.
The next Gate:
And the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build…. Nehemiah 3:3
Fish Gate – sha’ar dag -שַׁ֤עַר דָּג
This was one of Jerusalem’s main entrances in the days of the First Temple, according to2 Chr. 33:14.This gate led out to the main road north from Jerusalem/Yesushalyim, the road descended to the coastal plain through Beth-Horon. The majority of researchers agree that it is located close to the site where the Damascus Gate is today.
This gate was called the Fish Gate because merchants brought fish from Tyre or the Sea of Galilee through it to the fish market13:16.
Fish Gate – sha’ar dag -שַׁ֤עַר דָּג
reminds us of Jesus/Yeshua’s words concerning soul winning.
We are to become fishers of men Mt. 4:19in response to Yeshua/Jesus’ call to His disciples.
It seems that the Fish Gate was next in line to the Sheep Gate. Recall that the first thing Yeshua/Jesus was to send them out immediately after being saved, to witness for Him. The woman at the well and the possessed man among the tombs were examples of this recorded in John 4:5-38 and Mark 5:1-20.
At the time of Nehemiah, the Fish Gate was in disrepair. That is like so many believers who, for long periods of time, make no attempt to witness or win anyone to Messiah. There are many Believers who are fishing; sometimes they do not catch anything, but we’ll never catch a fish until we try! He is still calling us to be fishers of men because all around us today there are hungry hearts.
Yeshua/Jesus said to His disciples, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”He is giving us the same message as we stand before the Fish Gate.
Nehemiah 3:3-5; Matthew 13:47-49; Mark 16:15; Luke 5:6-9
The abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee Is 60:5
The FISH Gate -shows us the principle of evangelism, outreach, soul-winning.
An interesting note:
And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord. (Nehemiah 3:5)
Think what it would mean to be recorded in God’s book that, when the opportunity presented itself to put ourselves to the work of the Lord, we did not do it and missed the opportunity!
They were right next to theFish Gate.Scripture says,
He that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him… Proverbs 11:26.
Today some are withholding grain/the Word of God, from those that are hungry.
Prov. 11:30
tells us that
he that winneth souls is wise
and He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves [souls] with him Ps. 126:6.
Every believer should heed Mt. 28:19–20 and share the message of salvation, so that souls will be saved and we will shine as the stars forever and ever Dan. 12:3. and of course we are to make disciples of those that choose to follow Messiah.
As previously, mentioned, the majority of researchers agree that the Fish Gate was located close to the site where the Damascus Gate is today.
Damascus Gate שער שכם, Sha’ar Sh’khem
meaning
Shechem Gate, or Nablus Gate.
Sha’ar Shchem שער שכם
also known as
Nablus Gate
was built in 1542 by Suleiman the Magnificent and faces north. In Hebrew, the gate is named after the important northern city in Israel in ancient times, Shechem. The triple gate has one large center gate originally intended for important people, and two smaller side entrances for commoners.
It was also called Neapolis Gate around 325-638 AD
The original gate is believed to have been built during the period of the Second Jewish Temple or בית מקדש , that was destroyed by the Romans. In the second century AD during the reign of Hadrian, the Romans built a new gate.
A Roman victory column was erected in front of the gate,
giving the gate its Arabic name
Bab el-Amud,
meaning the
Gate of the Column/Pillar or Column Gate.
The Romans would place milestones along the roads and highways that they built throughout their empire in order to measure distance. Point zero in the land of Israel was a great pillar just inside Damascus Gate and the name preserves its memory. The pillar, for which the gate was named, has been seen in ancient art works. During the British mandate excavation unearthed the gate, however the column was never found.
The Damascus Gate is the largest and most magnificent and was probably the gate used as the main entrance to the city in ancient times and two towers stand on each side of the gate prepared for battle.
The Gates led to the main roads leading from the city. In this case the road leads to Shechem – Nablus and then on to Damascus…The road along which Saul met Yeshua/Jesus.
These are photos of the modern day Damascus Gate note the thickness of the walls bottom right photo!
Currently it opens to the beginning of the Arab bazaar and marketplace and to the Moslem Quarter and is the busiest of all the Old City gates. The location of this gate today marks the position of a major city gate from when Herod Agrippa expanded the city walls in 41 AD.
In the northwest corner is
The Old Gate
11
Moreover, the old gate repaired Joiada, the son of Paseah…. (Nehemiah 3:6)
this gate is identified with the
Corner Gateof
2 Kings 14:13 and Jeremiah 31:38.
Scholars differ in their Opinions concerning the use of the term Old Gate, but some believe this gate was so named, because it was the main entrance into the old city of Salem /Jerusalem on the north side.
Maps differ in their opinions of the position of the Old Gate as shown on the diagram.
The Old Gate is one of the many gates of the wall of Jerusalem, located on the northern side. It was repaired by the Jebusites during the wall rebuilding in the Book of Nehemiah.
In some versions the gate is called
the Jeshanah Gate, which translates to the old gate.
Despite the destructive fire of the city, evidently it left some remnant of the walls and gates that could be put to use so repairs to the third gate are recorded as the beams being laid, the doors set in place, and bolts and bars attached. This is similar to the repairs of many of the other gates.
Young’s Literal Translation uses the word strengthened rather than repaired, because the Hebrew word gives the idea of making strong and firm.
There are no references to the old gate having a specific use, as the Sheep and Fish Gates did however, it was in a convenient place for everyone as an entrance and exit from the city.
The Old Gate brings to mind the old man being renewed spiritually by our Heavenly Fathers spirit of Holiness. We could look at this in a significant way, that as The Old Gate is made new, repaired, strengthened in order to fulfill the purpose of the Fish Gate, and this is only made because of the Sheep Gate.
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4: 22:
Everything is connected! We know that it is impossible to serve God until we are made new in Messiah. Becoming fishers of men depends on us being renewed, strengthened and made firm in our faith and walk and only through the Lord Jesus/Yeshua Messiah.
The Old Gate serves to remind us that in us all some of the old still remains.
But just asThe old gate, though damaged and broken, was not thrown away when Nehemiah and his men came to rebuild; the gate was repaired, strengthened and put to good use/re-purposed! And renamed theNew Gate.
The prophetic type in the Old Gate seems to be that men are plagued with a sin nature which is inherited from Adam. The unregenerate man is known in Paul’s writings as the old man: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” Romans 6:6. Ephesians 4:22 and Colossians 3:9
There is an ongoing struggle for each of us, because we are not suddenly transformed the moment we become born again from above. Because we are left in our bodies of death; and there will always be this tension between the old and the new while we are still on the earth. Paul said“What a wretched man I am. “Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord.” We are made new spiritually, but our physical bodies are still part of the old creation.
Because the Old Gate reminds us of the old man/nature of believers in Yeshua/Jesus. It contrasts God’s ways and with our old lifestyle before we began to walk with HimJer. 6:16. In Jeremiah 6:16 we find this statement:
Thus saith the LORD, Stand in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk in it, and ye shall find rest for your souls.
We are living in a day when we are interested in the new thing; the newest model of car, style of clothes, and gadgets for the house, etc. Things may change around us, but the human heart remains the same and the constant search for something new, is the thing that is leading us to frustration.
We need to ask for the old paths. Jeremiah said that when we do we will find rest for our souls.
We need to restore the old virtues for the pattern of living today. Although the human heart is the same as it has always been, its needs are greater because of the technological life in which it is surrounded.
We are to put off the opinions of the old nature and walk in the newness of Jesus/Yeshua’s life asCol. 3:5–17 tells us to, so that sin has no dominion over our everyday living.Rom. 6:6–14.
The Old Gatesets forth the concept that sinful man needs to hear the Gospel of the Lamb. Those who tell the story are calledfishers of men and enter in through the New Gate of Jesus/Yeshua.
HaSha’ar HeChadash –
The New Gate השער החדש
or HaSha’ar HeHadash
השער החדש
Gate of Hammid
The New Gate
is known in Hebrew as HaSha’ar Hechadash,
Heb. השער החדש
and in Arabic as Bab el-Jadid, the Gate of Hammid.
This gate was constructed in 1889 by permission of Sultan Abdul Hamid II.
Called HaSha’ar HeChadash, the New Gate because it is the newest gate added to the old city of Jerusalem. Unlike all the other gates that were part of the original design of the wall constructed by Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century, this gate was breached in 1889. Though it was opened by the permission of the Ottoman ruler, it was done in the waning years of that empire. The New Gate was breached to afford the Christian pilgrims, and some note, specifically to provide the German Emperor William II easier access to the Christian Quarter.
This gate is also called Gate of Hammid in honor of the Sultan Abdul Hamid who gave permission to build it.
After the New Gate was captured by Jordan in 1948 it was closed off. It was reopened in 1967 after the Six Day war when Israel regained control of the Old City and the New Gate.
At the end of the Six Day War, Israeli soldiers file past a burnt vehicle as they enter the Lions’ Gate (or St Stephen’s Gate), Old City of Jerusalem, Israel, June 11, 1967. Israeli forces defeated the Jordan, which had held the Old City of Jerusalem since the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
In The OLD Gate we can see the principle of the restoration of foundational truths. Nehemiah 3:6-12; Ecclesiastes 1:9
This is the uncovering of scriptural truth and a return to the apostles teaching and practices;
Isaiah 28:10; Hebrews 6:1-2
Remove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers have set.
Prov. 22:28
Ask for the ancient paths!
The New Gate was not part of the original 1535 design of Suleiman the Magnificent.
Even though the New Gate is located just up the hill from the Damascus Gate in the north wall, there’s no comparison.
The New Gatewas placed into the wall by the Ottomans in 1887 so that people could easily access the homes being built outside the city wall to the north of the city. The sultan Abdul Hamid also wanted to assist the Christian pilgrims from Russia, (they stayed at the Russian Compound just outside these walls), within easy access to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
The New Gate is located near the northwestern corner of the city and leads into the Christian quarter.
New Gate Sha’ar Chadash
was not a part of the original plan of the city walls. It was opened in 1887 by the Turkish sultan Abed el Hamid in order to give Christian pilgrims who had settled in this area outside of the Old City walls direct access to the sites holy to them in the Christian Quarter.Since it is the most recent of all gates to be built it is called the New gate and it faces Northwest.
From looking at the gates we become aware that next to the Old Gate there was another gate called the Gate of Ephraim. Ephraim means fruitfulness or doubly fruitful and it was at the beginning of a long valley, or depression in the landscape called the
valley of the cheese makers
or the Tyropoean Valley.
Today this valley runs through the center of the old city parts of the excavated wall run parallel to it.
As we make progress in our walk, there will be a choice either
the old gate or the gate of Ephraim?
We may have been called like the one lost sheep or we may have been caught like a fish.
When first we are born again from above the scales fall off our eyes like Saul/Paul on the road to Damascus and we see truth for the first time. After a few days we begin to wonder if it is real and do we want to make that lifetime commitment. We have come through the sheep gate and through the fish gate now there is a choice which one will we choose….
the old gate back to the old life and friends
or
the gate that leads to fruitfulness?
It is tied directly to Matthew 13:20,21 and Mark 4
the sower and the seed.
The Old Gate lies at the threshold of a valley a long deep valley
The Tyropean Valley.
Here the believer will have trials which valleys represent. However we are to go through the valley as in the shepherds Psalm 23 and He is with us all the Way.
More Gates coming in the next post…
Shalom shalom
‘Mishpachah’
‘Family/Tribe’
משפחה
Mish-pa-KHa,
friends, visitors and every reader…
Please don’t leave this page before making certain you are His
and are truly born from above.
Know of a certainty that Jesus/Yeshua is
your Redeemer, Savior, Lord
and soon returning King
and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.
It’s all about Life and Relationship, not Religion.
NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..
SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry.
I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’ name. Amen.
The prophet Ezekiel says that a day will come when there will be 12 gates in the city walls, one for each of Israel’s tribes. (Ezekiel 48:31-34).
There can be some confusion as to which gate is called what because, over the generations they have been given different names depending on who was in control of the city.
A GATE
שַׁ֫עַר shaar
gives access to the City; it is a seat of power, authority and influence; 1 Chronicles 9:22-23
Cities were walled with gates to protect those inside, it was a security defense; they were very thick.See pictures below.
The walls around the Old City of Jerusalem were built in the early 16th century by Turkish Sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent.
There are many stories connected to
Sha’ar Yerushalyim
the walls of Jerusalem.
Via the gates people entered and left the city, by them, Jerusalem was conquered numerous times, and here trading has taken place for thousands of years. Although the gates of Jerusalem were in a slightly different place in Biblical times, the city gates were a place to learn Torah and to teach the laws in scripture. Today, officially there are 8 gates in the walls of the Old City, although there are a few extra “unofficial” gates. 7 of the official gates are still in use, while one has been blocked off for hundreds of years.
If we count 12 the list would be:
The Valley Gate (2:13; 3:13). Also 2Chronicles 26:9.
The Gate of the Fountain (2:14; 3:15; 12:37), on Ophel at the Gihon spring that is mentioned in 2Kings 25:4. Jeremiah 39:4.
The Sheep Gate (3:1; 12:39). North of the Temple.
The Fish Gate (3:3; 12:39). Also 2Chronicles 33:14. Zephaniah 1:10.
The Old Gate (3:6; 12:39). Also 2Chronicles 33:14, and 2Kings 22:14,college. Also called the First Gate.Zechariah 14:10.
The Dung Gate (2:14; 3:14; 12:31). Probably same as Harsith Gate (Jeremiah 19:2); sometimes rendered the Gate of Potsherds/Pottery Gate. Leading to Hinnom. .
The Water Gate (3:25, 26).
The Horse Gate (3:28). Also 2Kings 11:16. 2Chronicles 23:15. Jeremiah 31:40. South-east of the Temple, and close to the city and house of David.
The East Gate (3:29). East of the Temple, and connected with it.
The Gate of Miphkad (3:31). Probably north-east of Temple. Also called The Registry Gate.
The Gate of Ephraim (8:16; 12:39). Also 2Chronicles 25:23.
The Prison Gate(12:39), or Gate of the Guard2Kings 11:6, 19
In Nehemiah 3, the first sixteen verses refer to Jerusalem, and the latter sixteen verses to Zion (or the city of David), south of Moriah. Those who wish to study these, and a comparison with chapter 12, will find it explains most of the difficulties connected with the layout of the city.
Four of the gates of Jerusalem face the cardinal directions; the Damascus Gate to the north, the Golden Gate to the east, the Zion Gate to the south, and the Jaffa Gate to the west.
The remaining gates are:
the Flower, or Herods Gate,
the Lion Gate,
the Dung Gate,
and the New Gate.
The Old City of Jerusalem had eight gates in its walls.
Suleiman’s original walls had six gates:
Damascus Gate,
Herod’s Gate,
Stephen’s Gate,
Dung Gate,
Zion Gate and
Jappa Gate.
The gates were all designed and built to have an L-shaped entry instead of a straight line of entry. Taking this sharp ninety degree turn would have slowed down an invading army in the final moments of a siege. The “L” turns have been removed from Stephen’s Gate and the Dung Gate to better facilitate modern traffic but can still be seen in the other four gates.
The Gates Of Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s Day.
Nehemiah chapter 3 describes the building of the walls and gates of the city, giving the names of the individuals and families who performed the work and the portion of the wall or gates on which they were employed.
After the Babylonian Captivity, when the Jewish people returned to their homeland, Jerusalem lay in ruins. The Temple, the city walls, and the gates had been destroyed as a result of the three invasions of Nebuchadnezzar and his forces in 606 BC, 597 BC, and 586 BC.
Much work needed to be done, and Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah each led groups of the returned remnant in the task of rebuilding the city of Jerusalem.
Restoring the gates was a necessary element in rebuilding the walls and securing the city. The dictionary defines a gate as a movable structure controlling entrance or exit through an opening in a fence or wall or any means of entrance.
Under the adverse conditions which he encountered, Nehemiah’s task was enormous.
The job required a team effort, as described in chapter 3. To accomplish the task, Nehemiah assigned specific work places to individuals and families, who were assigned to work on sections of the wall or gates near their homes. This provided the motivation needed to complete the work and it also avoided wasting time that would have been needed to travel to other parts of the city. It assured the workers that they would be near their homes to protect their families in the event of an attack. Each family was to use all of its available talent, thus making it a household project v. 21, 23–24, 26, 28–30. In addition to local residents, many people who lived outside of Jerusalem were assigned to work on sections of the wall where homes were sparse v. 2, 5, 7, 27.
Some of the work assignments were given according to their roles in life .e.g. v. 1 the High Priest and other priests were assigned to rebuild the
Sheep Gate which was important to the priests
because animals were brought through that gate to the Temple for sacrificial offerings.
Beginning from the north wall of the Temple, and going forward counterclockwise 10 gates are mentioned inchapter 3.
The circumference of the walls was approximately 2 1/2 miles, or 4 km. and covering approximately 220 acres/890308 sq.metres.
There are spiritual applications for our lives today
reflected in the
10 gates names
and what they were connected to.
The Sheep Gate, Fish Gate, and Old Gate
were located in the northern section of the wall.
The Sheep Gate
is the first gate mentioned in Nehemiah.
The building of the wall and gates
begins from the Sheep Gate
in Nehemiah 3,
because
everything begins from the offering of
the Lamb
Yeshua HaMashiach/Jesus Christ.
The first gate is the Sheep Gate
and, next to it,
the Tower of Hananel, which means God’s mercy
or something to do with the mercy of God;
and the Tower of the Me’ah, which is the Hebrew word for one hundred.
As just mentioned, that is the gate to which they brought the sheep into Jerusalem to be sacrificed in the temple.
Recall, when Yeshua/Jesus said
if a shepherd loses a sheep,
he’ll leave the 99 and go after the 1?
(Luke 15:3-7)
If 1 sheep is missing,
it is not counted as a legitimate flock.
A flock had to be 100!
Sometimes, some of us go astray, maybe some fall away and young believers sometimes backslide. In times of stress and crisis, it can sometimes seem that the Lord has abandoned us, and so we wander off. This is not true and the Good Shepherd comes after us because He doesn’t want to lose any that the Father has given to Him. The Sheep Gate is representative of Messiahs statement in
John 10:27
The spiritual meaning of the Sheep Gate is that the High Priest built it, and that through that gate,lambs and sheep were brought to the temple for sacrifice.
Note that the sheep gate had no locks or bars,
for
the door of salvation
is open to everyone.
This was the only gate that was sanctified,
setting it apart as a special gate!
IN v. 1, 32 on the northeast corner of the wall. was the location of The Sheep Gate named because sheep were led through it to the Temple. It was near the market where sheep were sold and close to the Sheep Pool where the Temple sacrifices were washed. The Sheep Gate was also near another well known place, the Pool of Bethesda (Jn. 5:2).
The Tower of Hammeah (hundred) and the Tower of Hananel (12:39). Were Between the Sheep Gate and the Fish Gate.
The Tower of Hananel is also mentioned in Jeremiah 31:38 and Zechariah 14:10 as the northernmost part of the city.
The Sheep Gate is a reminder to us of calvarys’ cross. Yeshua/Jesus was “the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world” Jn. 1:29 Humanity is described as wayward sheep (Isa. 53:6) who need a shepherd to lead them into God’s eternal heavenly sheepfold. Yeshua/Jesus is the door through which sinners can enter the sheepfold and be redeemed (Jn. 10:1–9).Believers are bought with a price according to 1 Cor. 6:20, the blood of God’s Lamb, Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach
Then Eliashib, the high priest, rose up with his brethren, the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it. (Nehemiah 3:1)
The Sheep Gate in Jerusalem was near the temple; it was where the sacrificial animals were brought in to be offered on the altar. It is in keeping that the priests should build this particular gate, for it speaks of Christ and His work upon the cross for us. That is exactly what the prophet had said:
He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)
When John the Baptist marked Christ out for His ministry he said,
“Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
It makes one wonder if the Yeshua/Jesus came in at the Sheep Gate every time He entered the city except on the day of the Triumphal Entry?
We do know for sure that He came in through the Sheep Gate to the Pool of Bethesda, where He healed the blind man. That act was symbolic of the fact that He came as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world, the poor man who was healed is a picture of every sinner who, will find deliverance from sin if they are willing to come to the cross of Messiah.
Yeshua/Jesus not only came in through that gate, but they took Him out through that gate when He was arrested and also when He was led out to be crucified. The Sheep Gate was the place of judgment, telling us that He bore the judgment of our sin. This is the gate where we must begin with God, because He is not prepared to meet us anywhere else but at the cross.
It is interesting to note that,
next unto him the men of Jericho built. Nehemiah 3:2. Jericho was the city of the curse, and the men of Jericho were building right next to the Sheep Gate.
Surely, that’s not by chance!
Messiah bore the curse of sin on the cross for us.
in Galatians, Paul wrote saying:
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree. Galatians 3:13.
The old Sheep gate
שער כבשים
sha`ar ha-tso’-n or sha’ar ke-ves
is also known as
St Stephens gate
and
Lions gate
שערהאריות Sha’ar ha-Arayot,
to the north of the Haram es-Sherif, or temple area from which the path leads down into the valley of the Kedron.
The first gate has implications in being called sheep (sacrifical lamb) and lion (of Judah/tribes) and Stephen seeing heaven opened, (martyr). This is where we too must begin our journey into His Kingdom/City…
At the foot of the cross where
freedom from the curse of sin awaits us.
Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach is the High Priest of the ReNewEd Covenant, He is the Lamb, who offered His life as the price of our sins.
As our spiritual High Priest, Yeshua/Jesus set up doors of the Sheep Gate, which means that
He is the Door of the sheep.
To receive salvation and, therefore enter God’s kingdom, a man must enter through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ/Yeshua haMashiach.
John 10:7 Then said Jesus to them again, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
It is very significant that
Eliashib in Hebrew means:
God restores.
Again it’s not by chance but our Heavenly Fathers’ design that, as High Priest, he was the one who rebuilt the Sheep Gate and the walls surrounding it.
The Gates continue in Part 2!
Shalom shalom
‘Mishpachah’
‘Family/Tribe’
משפחה
Mish-pa-KHa,
friends, visitors and every reader…
Please don’t leave this page before making certain you are His
and are truly born from above.
Know of a certainty that Jesus/Yeshua is
your Redeemer, Savior, Lord
and soon returning King
and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.
It’s all about Life and Relationship, not Religion.
NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..
SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry.
I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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