Continuing from Part 4 – The Gates of Jerusalem
Sha’ar Yerushalayim
שער המזרקה
The next gate recorded in Nehemiah is
The Fountain Gate,
sha’ar hamayim
שער המאיים
or
־שַׁ֣עַר הָעַ֔יִן gate of the fountain
Strongs 4726
fountain, issue, spring, wellspring
Or maqor {maw-kore’}; from quwr ;
מזרקת שתייה. drinking fountain
Strong’s Hebrew: 4599.
מַעְיָן
mayan or mayeno or mayanah …
fountain, spring, well.
Or ma ynow (Psa. 114:8) {mah-yen-o’};
or (feminine) ma yanah {mah-yaw-naw’};
from ayin
(as a denominative in the sense of a spring); a fountain.
Fountain Gate (v.15)
Neh. 3:15 But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king’s garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.
The Fountain Gate or gate of the fountain
is located at the entrance near
located near the pool of Siloah (Siloam).
Pool of Siloam
בריכת השילוח ,
Breikhat HaShiloah
this Pool of Shelah,
called Shelah
by Nehemiah in 3:15
is also called
Shiloah
in Isaiah 8:6.
Strong’s Greek: 4611.
Σιλωάμ (Silóam)
Siloam, a pool in Jerusalem
Shiloach
Here is where king Hezekiah’s tunnel
brought water into the Old City.
The Fountain Gate, where the
Pool of Siloach was located;
the Gihon Spring
is where the water began..
This fresh clean water that came from the
Pool of Siloach
entered the city through Hezekiah’s tunnel,
this water was called
chay/chaim mayim – living water.
Which in both Isaiah and John is always
a type or figure of Yahoveh’s Spirit of Holiness.
John 7:39, Isaiah 44:3
The Pool of Siloam
is the place where Yahshua/Yeshua/Jesus,
sent the man who had been born blind,
John 9:7; Recall this is the pool that meant
Sent or sending – Pool of the sent.
In those days, a large pool with several porches served those who wanted to be spiritually clean washed before entering the Temple compound.
This pool speaks to us spiritually about the work of regeneration in the new believer. One who has come all the way to the south of the city walls past the Dung Gate and has turned the corner from sin and the flesh life towards redemption; in order to go forward up the Eastern Wall toward the Eastern Gate which, led directly into the Court of the Temple where God/YHVH/Yehoveh’s presence was.
The work of regeneration is done by the
Sent One – The Fathers’ Spirit of Holiness,
who was promised to the disciples before the death of
YHVH/Yehoveh/God’s Lamb.
We can recall that Messiah said,
It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. John 16:7.
The water in the Pool of Siloam is symbolic of the work of
His Ruach HaKodesh/Spirit of Holiness,
as well as being a type referring to life in general.
Remember that in Hebrew thought,
Running water
is always referred to as
living waters.
mayim chaim
מים חיים
It seems, therefore, that the
Pool of Siloam
represents the place where a repentant sinner, who has been convicted of sin, now receives the
water of life
from which he will never thirst again.
John 4:14
At the time of Nehemiah and after it many entered the
mikveh/miqveh/ מקוה
and washed themselves before they entered into the temple area.
Very needful in their process of regaining purity
is immersion in a
mikvah,
a pool of
mayim chayim, living (non-stagnant) waters.
mikvah
מִקְוֶה / מקווה,
pronounced MICK-vuh,
Transliteration: miqveh.
Phonetic Spelling: mik-veh’
Strongs #4723
Above picture of excavated Mikvehs.
As the
Fountain Gate
is located near the
Pool of Siloam
it was often used by the people for cleaning before proceeding on to the temple.
The Fountain Gate is located extremely close to the Dung Gate.
So spiritually speaking, after a Valley type experience where rubbish in our lives is cleared out through the Dung Gate, true faith begins to grow and the fountains starts to flow quite quickly.
This speaks to us of the
מים חיים
mayim chayim,
living waters
of His Spirit of Holiness/Ruach HaKodesh;
Who cleanses our lives and empowers us for our
walk/Halak/הלך
along His
Way/Derek/דרך.
Yahushua/Yeshua/Jesus said:
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. John 7:38.
The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Col-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. Neh. 3:15-16
The King’s Garden*
gan-ha-melekh/melek
גַּן gan
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ ha melekh
began in the Kidron Valley beside the City of David.
In Nehemiah 3:15, mention is made of
the pool of Shelah by the king’s garden.
Also mentioned in 2 Kings 25:4; Jeremiah 52:7, All the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king’s garden; also in Jeremiah 39:4.
These references all point to the one place in Jerusalem/Yerushalayim, where it is possible for gardens to flourish all the year round, the part of the Kidron valley below the Tyropoeon which is watered by the overflow from the Pool of Siloam.
Shallum built the wall of the Pool of Shelah at the king’s garden as far as the steps that descend from the city of David.
The Pool of Shelah or Siloam, which we recall, translates the Hebrew shelah = sent; John 9:7 and the City of David have been archaeologically confirmed and therefore the King’s Garden could have flourished close to where the Hinnom Valley joins with the Kidron Valley south of the City of David.
We know from the above text, based on the description of the adjoining length of wall that Shallum also repaired, that the Fountain Gate was on the wall of the Pool of Shelach, also known as Siloah, by the king’s garden.
We also know that the Pool of Siloah received its water from a underground channel, cut 1750 feet through the rock from the Fountain of the Virgin/Gihon Spring and therefore the given name, Fountain Gate.
There are many symbolic references to a fountain in the Bible.
The first is wisdom:
the teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
turning a man from the snares of death. Prov. 13:14
The next is a reference to the fountain being as the fear of God/YHVH/Yahoveh: The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death. Prov. 14:27
Another in Proverbs is:
The mouth of the righteous is a Fountain of life. Prov. 10:11
Fountains are used to refer to our relationship with our Heavenly Father: You are a garden fountain, a well of flowing water . . .
Song of Solomon 4:1 5
Fountains are used to represent a cleansing and renewal process: On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. Zech. 13:1
The process of cleansing, wisdom, righteousness, relationship . . . seems to represent the outpouring of His Spirit of Holiness/Ruach HaKodesh.
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. Isa. 44:3
The Fountain Gate
speaks to us of the
living waters of His Spirit of Holiness
Who cleanses our lives and empowers us for our halak/walk.
The Fountain Gate was northeast of the Dung Gate,
near the Pool of Siloam by the king’s garden. 2 Ki. 25:4
and led into the Kidron Valley.
It derived its name from the location where the Siloam Tunnel emerged from the ground with water from the Gihon Spring.
Above a view of the Kidron Valley, with the Mount of Olives across the valley to the left and the slope of the City of David on the right. The Gihon Spring emerges from the foot of this slope.
From the City of David, the picture above views north and east across the Kidron Valley.
Gihon Spring. מעיין הגיחון
Gichon from root gayach
meaning: to burst forth!
Strongs #1521
It is also known as
Saint Mary’s Pool.
Gihon Spring
מעיין הגיחון
is a spring in the Kidron Valley
and was the main source of water for the
Pool of Siloam.
Hezekiahs Tunnel
was dug in the reign of Hezekiah, king of Judea, about 701 B.C.E. It was hewn out of the bedrock for over half a kilometer, about 40 meters beneath Ophel connecting the Gihon Spring; Jerusalem’s fresh water supply, with the Pool of Siloam.
The newer Siloam Tunnel
נִקְבַּת הַשִּׁלֹחַ, Nikbat HaShiloaḥ,
also known as
Hezekiah’s Tunnel תעלת חזקיהו
is the water channel that was carved within the then
City of David.
The Fountain Gate again, alludes to our Heavenly Fathers’ Spirit of Holiness. During the Feast of Sukkot/Tabernacles Yahshua/Yeshua/ Jesus stated,
If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water. John 7:37–38.
In obedience to Messiah’s invitation, we are to be filled/controlled by our Heavenly Fathers’ Spirit of Holiness.
Eph. 5:18
Pause to remember for a moment the previous two gates:
The Valley Gate represents the trials and troubles that we are to go through in life to bring to our attention the rubbish of the old self; and the Dung Gate, where that rubbish can be discarded. Anyone who has tried to clean out their own life soon realizes it is not so easily dismissed because the only WAY to be free of the old carnal sinful life is through the power of His Spirit/Ruach:
he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you. Rom. 8:11.
Remember that there was no section of wall mentioned as being rebuilt between the Dung Gate and the Fountain Gate.The reason for this lack of information is not important, however, is our Heavenly Father using it to tell us that we have immediate help available in order to clean up our lives? It is good to know that the moment we’re ready to remove the rubbish in our lives, His Spirit/Ruach is right beside us to help us.
After we have endured the trials that reveal the rubbish in our hearts, our Father brings us to the Fountain Gate, here He fills us up with His Spirit of Holiness so that we will be empowered to live and walk as His disciples/talmidim did.
The spiritual meaning of the Fountain Gate seems to teach us that from the fountain of living waters, and its’ source, YHVH/Yehoveh/ God, through His Spirit of Holiness and through the Messiah Yahshua /Lord Jesus, is our source for healing and spiritual cleanliness.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. John 7:38
When we determine to die to our carnal fleshly life with its’ sinful nature, and choose to believe in the Lord Jesus/Yahshua Ha Mashiach, as the Scriptures say,
in his heart will flow living waters /His Ruach/Spirit.
The Fountain Gate proclaims that we can attain a life of purity and holiness through the power of the His Spirit/Ruach in us.
This is how we become true talmidim/disciples of Yahshua/Yeshua/Jesus.
——————————-
Water Gate
Moreover the Nethinim who dwelt in Ophel made repairs as far as the place in front of the Water Gate toward the east, and on the projecting tower. Neh. 3:26,27
The Water Gate,
shaar hamayim
שער המאיים
Water gate
( שַׁ֤עַר הַמַּ֨יִמ׃֙, the gate of the water )
הַמַּ֨יִמ שַׁ֤עַר
In Bible days, the Water Gate was located in the Eastern Wall of the lower city, near the Gihon Spring, and just above the Kidron Valley. It was about halfway between the Pool of Soloam and the Pinnacle of the Temple, which was the southeastern corner of the Temple fortress.
As already mentioned, an underground tunnel
that flows from the Fountain Gate to the Water Gate
which was built by Hezekiah. It’s still there today.
The Water Gate was part of the palace/Temple complex rather than in the wall.
It was so named because it led to the city’s main source of water, the Gihon Spring. It apparently encompassed a large area, for the reading of the law took place there Neh. 8:1, 3, 16.
The Water Gate can be related to to scripture because Yahshua/Yeshua/Jesus, compared Himself to water, a type of God’s Word.
In a previous post we looked at the time that He spoke to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well recorded in John. 4:5–14.
In 2 Tim. 2:15 we are encouraged to be conscientious students of the Scriptures and to rightly divide the word of truth.
God’s Word will bring spiritual maturity to the lives of those who do so. 2 Tim. 3:16–17.
WATER GATE
הַמַּ֨יִמ שַׁ֤עַר
the gate of the water.
The Water Gate
was repaired by
the Nethinim who lived in Ophel.
Ophel was the slope south of the Temple, and the Water Gate was a gate in the eastern wall. Due to its position close to the Temple, it is believed that this gate may have been used as an overflow for the surplus water from the temple reservoirs. Another theory is that when the temple reservoirs of water were low, this gate may have been used to refill them with water from the Kidron Valley.
The Nethinim were temple servants. The first mention of temple servants can be found very early on in Bible history. As Israel began the conquest of the Promised Land, the Gibeonites who were already in the land, deceived them into making an unholy treaty.
The scripture tell us what happened when this deception became known:
And that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, in the place which He would choose, even to this day. Josh 9:27.
Is it possible that these Nethinim who repaired the Water Gate were the descendants of these very same Gibeonites, the ones who were appointed to be water carriers?
An artist’s impression from 2007 & 2010 of the guard towers that protected the Gihon Springs during the days of the kings of Judah in the Old Testament. Plus pictures showing the archaeological remains of the guard towers at the source of the Gihon Spings.
Water Gate: Facing east, south of the current Old City walls Nehemiah 3:26.
It’s near the start of the tunneled waterway that was fed by a spring, possibly En-Rogel..
Joshua 15:7; 18:16
or
Gihon
2 Chronicles 32:30; 33:14.
Apparently, the eastern wall on the south end was abandoned and a new wall built farther to the west, turning the southern section into more of a tail-like shape. The new wall did not include the tomb of David and most of the water tunnel that fed the Pool of Shelah by the Dung Gate, however the narrow structure included the upper house of the king, the home of the high priest, and the way up to the armory.
After the wall was built,
Ezra read the people the Law
from a square by the Water Gate.
Nehemiah 8:1.
The Water Gate led down to the Gihon Spring which was located adjacent to the Kidron Valley. The Water Gate is a picture of the Word of God and its effect in our life.
Eph. 5:26 states ‘… having washed her by the water of the word.’
Psalm 119:9 states that it is only through God’s word that we can be clean.
It is no coincidence that this gate was located next to the Fountain Gate as the two often go together. Our Heavenly Fathers Spirit of Holiness is the One who makes His Word come alive to us individually, allowing the cleansing to take place in our life. Followed by encouragement and His direction for our WAY forward.
During the festival of Tabernacles/Booths/Sukkot, the Kohanim/Priests, drew water from the Shiloach Brook, and brought it through this gateway.
The Water Gate was open only during the festival.
The Water Gate took its name as well from the narrow stream of water that flowed from beneath the foundations of the Heichal, across the courtyard, and out through the Water Gate.
The Mikdash (Sanctuary)
The Mikdash is built of three parts:
The Ulam (Hall);
the Kodesh (the Holy area) also known as the
הייכל Heichal/hekal
and the
Kodesh Kodashim, the Holy of Holies.
In addition to the Water Gate, the Southern side of the Temple also had several additional gateways:
Sha’ar HaBechorot – Gate of the Firstborn;
Sha’ar HaDelek – The Firewood Gate.
The forests of Jerusalem were located west of the Upper City. The wood was cut down and brought in through the Kiphonus Gate, the only gate on the western side of the Temple wall to lead directly onto the Temple Mount.
The Kiphonus Gate
took the visitor through a tunnel
which led to the top of the
Har HaBayis/Temple.
The wood was cut down and brought in through the Kiphonus Gate, the only gate on the western side of the Temple wall to lead directly onto the Temple Mount. The gate on the west was known as the Coponius (Kiphonus) Gate, which may correspond to what is today known as Barclay’s Gate.
The wood could not be brought in through the western gates surrounding the Azarah, because those gates were narrow and small.
The wood had to be carried around to the southern part of the Azarah and brought in through one of those gateways, which was called the Gate of the Firewood.
The firewood from the Wood Chamber was also brought into the Azarah through the Gate of the Firewood.
Sha’ar HaElyon – Upper Gate
The Upper Gate – not to be confused with the
Nikanor Gate (picture below), that was also called
the Upper Gate –
was the highest point on the Temple Mount.
Water is used in the Bible as a symbol of cleansing:
our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Heb. 10:22;
and
to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word. Eph. 5:26-27.
Pilate used water as a symbol of cleansing:
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said. ‘It is your responsibility. Matt. 27:24.
water also naturally leads us to the subject of
immersion/baptism:
I baptize you with water for repentance. Matt. 3:11.
The preceding gate, the Fountain Gate, is symbolic of the outpouring of His Spirit of holiness/Ruach HaKodesh in our lives. So it is no coincidence that the very next gate in the series is the Water Gate, because His Spirit of Holiness/Ruach HaKodesh, and cleansing go together.
His Spirit of Holiness/Ruach HaKodesh is the one Who makes the Word of God come alive for us personally, thus allowing for the cleansing, the encouragement, and His direction to take place in our lives.
The Water Gate
tells about Our Heavenly Father/Yahoveh, Who is the source of
His Spirit of holiness/Ruach HaKodesh
through The Messiah, Yahshua/Yeshua/Jesus.
In the TaNaKh/Old Testament, water describes
His Spirit of holiness/Ruach HaKodesh.
The spiritual meaning of the
Water Gate is practical life, lived in
His Spirit of holiness/Ruach HaKodesh.
John 4: 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
1Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Through sanctification of the Spirit, Yahshua/Yeshua/Jesus’s disciples are called to obey Yahoveh through the Blood of Messiah/Mashiach. By His grace we have our part to do, in which He leads us in the way of obedience.
First the Valley Gate where the trials and tribulations are allowed to uncover the rubbish;
then the Dung Gate where the rubbish can be done away with.
Next comes the Fountain Gate, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and this brings about the cleansing, the Water Gate.
The Water Gate also represents cleansing, but not for the purpose of regeneration or conversion; that took place at the Fountain Gate.
The Water Gate together with the Gihon Spring seems to represent a life of relationship, the connecting, the fellowship and of worship that keeps us spiritually in tune with our Heavenly Father’s will for our lives.
Whereas the Fountain Gate represents being bathed, or baptized, by His Spirit of Holiness, the Water Gate represents us drinking/taking it in physically, so that He lives inside of us.
Just above the Water Gate, in the Ophel area of the southern Temple wall, several mikvahs/immersion/baptismal pools, have been uncovered by Israel’s top archeologists. That is likely the place where 3,000 people were baptized on the day of Shavuot/Pentecost.
Nehemiah and Ezra gathered all the people at the Water Gate and read the Law of Moses. We are told that the people spent several hours standing to hear the precious Word. The Water Gate became the place of gathering, of teaching, of fellowship.
The next gate lies very near to the Water Gate.
It is called…
————————————
Horse Gate (v. 28)
שער sha’ar
סוס sus
sha’ar sus
סוס שער
וסים סוס
5483b. sus — a horse
סוס
or פרש
parash.
Strongs 657a. a horse, steed.
Phonetic Spelling: paw-rawsh’
So
horse gate
parash sha’ar
in Hebrew would be
סוס פרש
The Horse Gate (v. 28) was on the east side of the Temple overlooking the Kidron Valley; and the Kings horse stables were probably located near it.
It seems to have been a gate by which horses approached and left the old palace of David, which lay north of the temple. Due to its position to the Temple and to the Water Gate, it may have also been where the horses were led to drink. Another suggestion is that in order to go to the temple, an individual arriving on horseback at the Horse Gate, would have to dismount and leaving their horse here, because this was as far as a horse could go.
For believers, The Horse Gate is a reminder of the ongoing spiritual warfare that we all experience in our walk/halak. This reminder is primarily because the horse is a symbol of war and of our need to be good to be fully equipped to fight the good fight of faith as soldiers of Yeshua HaMashiach/Jesus Christ; according to 2 Tim. 2:3 and in Eph. 6:10–18; and 2 Tim. 4:7.
Following verse 26, the next gate that they come to is in Ophel.
The temple servants living in Ophel made repairs as far as the front of the Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower. After them the Tekoites repaired another section in front of the great projecting tower and as far as the wall of Ophel. Above the Horse Gate…
This wall would have been on the same location, or almost the same location, as the present eastern wall facing the Mount of Olives, across from the Kidron Valley; turning east, is the Horse Gate.
Above the Horse Gate, the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house. Neh. 3:28-29.
So the Horse Gate just east of the royal palace and southeast of the Temple Mount, near where the priests had their homes Nehemiah 3:28. This is not the same horse gate of 2 Kings 11:16 and 2 Chronicles 23:15; that gate was between the palace and the temple and was the site where Queen Athaliah was killed.
As previously mentioned, the Horse Gate was positioned by the horse stables and in King David’s time, this gate was used for an entrance to horse stables. It seems that the area of Solomon’s stables was misnamed, being within the Temple compound, however it is likely that stables were close by. Over the centuries, the underground area just inside the Temple’s southern wall, took on the name of Solomon’s stables because of this gate.
In the ancient Near East, and in biblical times horses were not used for transport. Donkeys and camels were animals for transport. Sheep were used for meat and wool, cattle were used for meat, for hides, and for milk. A horse had only one purpose it was the animal of war. Horses were used for pulling chariots and for mounted soldiers, the cavalry. They are best described as servants to humanity.
One spiritual significance of the Horse Gate teaches that we too are to serve humanity. Secondly Horses were used in the wars against enemies; linking the spiritual meaning of the Horse Gate to spiritual warfare:
Eph. 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Horse gate – ša˓ar hassûsîm
There is a verse in Jer. 31:38 which confirms the east as the side where the gate was situated.
It is a remarkable prophetic statement that
the days are coming
when this city will be rebuilt for the Lord, from the Tower of Hananel (the second tower between the Sheep Gate and the Fish Gate)… The whole valley where dead bodies and ashes are thrown, out to the Kidron Valley on the east as far as the corner of the Horse Gate, will be will be holy to the Lord.
Being as the Horse Gate was close to the King’s stables the soldiers would go to war riding their horses out of this Yerushalayim/Jerusalem gate.
‘I saw Heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness does He judge and make war.’ Rev. 19:11
whether we know it or not or believe it or not, every follower of Messiah is in a Spiritual war.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Eph. 6:12
Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
2 Cor. 10:3-5
It is clear that we live in a war zone and we have to be alert and continually in a state of being prepared!
The good news, which of course is conditional
is that:
IF we dress ourselves in truth, righteousness, faith, peace, salvation and God’s Word,
IF we learn to take every thought captive, and
IF we apply the truth found in God’s Word to every argument brought to our attention,
and IF we remain covered in Messiahs Blood
and walk in obedience..
Then we WILL BE VICTORIOUS, for
God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Cor. 10:13-15
A true disciple lives in and by the power of His Spirit/Ruach; we are continually on the spiritual battlefield in a warfare, in which we fight against evil spirits, temptations to sin and the continual desires, demands and craving lusts of our flesh.
Heb. 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Jas. 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Cruden’s Concordance gives 3 references to the Horse Gate. All 3 give some information about it.
The first, 2 Chronicles 23:15, (told before the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar,) identifies the Horse Gate entrance as being on the palace grounds.
The gate would be situated near the stables of Solomon that housed some of his 12,000 horses, the ones that he had with him in Jerusalem. (1 Kings 10:26.)
In Nehemiah’s day the gate also led to the site of the King’s Garden and the tomb of David, (the latter still existing in New Testament times), (Acts 2:29), and to the tombs of his descendants……
But there was now no king!
An interesting question is, was this the gate entered by another King, about 500 years after the time of Nehemiah? Or was that the East or Golden Gate which will be covered in the next post?
Messiah entered Jerusalem/Yerushalayim on what is now called Palm Sunday, not on a decorated horse of triumph, but on the lowliest member of the horse family, possibly covered with the prayer shawls of His disciples, a donkey. To this point, He had avoided public declaration of Himself as King, often telling the people not to talk of what He had done for them.
In John 6:15 there was an incident as the people had tried to take Him by force and make Him King, but the timing was not the Fathers timing, so He withdrew into the hills by Himself.
Was He setting out deliberately to make his claim?
It was the fulfillment of the entrance of the King from Zechariah 9: Your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Any knowledgeable Jew would recognize this. This is why The Pharisees and priests were horrified because any Torah observant Jew would recognize this as prophetic scripture happening before their eyes.
They were horrified because the promise of an everlasting King had been made to David, not in their eyes to this local carpenter.
Interestingly the crowd seemed to be aware that He was of the Royal House. Because they called out
Hosanna to the Son of David.
The religious leaders were willfully blind choosing to ignore the TRUTH the LIFE and the WAY right before them as it did not fit the picture they had created for the fulfillment of their coming Messiah.
As this gentle King entered the city, crowds threw palm branches, clothes and prayer shawls under His feet.
There is an interesting thought which raises a question here, when a few days later they delivered Messiah into Pilate’s hands.
Did Pilate know the deeper significance of the ride on a donkey a few days before?
Was this first ‘Palm Sunday’ event the reason behind and for the mockery, the purple robe, the crown of thorns and the persistent questioning about His Kingdom and Kingship?
Our Sar Shalom/The Prince of Peace did enter Jerusalem as King, on a donkey. The same King, is coming again but this time for warfare, in victory, and for judgment of mankind,
He will be on a white horse and the armies of heaven, also mounted on white horses.
Rev. 19:11-16. Rev. 1:12-17.
So the Horse Gate also speaks of the Day of the Lord, and the end time judgment, as well as reminding us that we are all engaged daily in spiritual warfare, and the soon return of Yahshua/YeshuaHaMashiach/Jesus Christ!
For you know very well that the day of the lord will come like a thief in the night . . . But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled . . . putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
1 Thess. 5:2-8.
We need to be prepared and make sure we are ready to go to war. We can’t go through the Horse Gate until we have been through the Water Gate, and we’re not going to get any water until we submit to the Father and allow Him to remove all the refuse and rubbish. He cannot do that until we realize that He has to do it.
The Horse Gate focuses on the glorification of our Savior.
We see the image of the lowly King riding the donkey on His way to save His people. Then as the warrior King, overcoming His enemies and being the righteous judge.
Finally the Horse Gate reminds us that He is on the throne in the presence of His and our Heavenly Father and that every knee shall bow before Him.
Our teshuvah/repenting/turning about, at the Fountain Gate prepares us for the high calling of praise/worship and service we see in the Water Gate and Horse Gate. This is where we show our trust/faith by our works. Working out our salvation.. doing the things He has told us to do as His talmidim/disciples and this is where we lay up treasures in heaven. We could say that these gates represent a lifetime of good works, according to that which He has required of us.
Providing extended details of the
Gates of Jerusalem
Sha’ar Yerushalayim
is especially for those who have not physically been able to visit the land of Israel/Yisrael. It is hoped it will give an insight to and a helpful visual reference of the reality of Jerusalem/Yerushalayim as a place. It confirms that the gates are really there and the Bible is not just a book of stories. It is the city of the Great King where He has chosen to put His Name.
The last gates will be covered in the next post.
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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.