Nehemiah 3:15 Shallun the son of Col-Hozeh, leader of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain … •Gates are strategic. In obedience to Christ’s invitation, we are to be filled (controlled) by the Holy Spirit (Eph. It was near the market where sheep were sold and close to the Sheep Pool where the Temple sacrifices were washed. 31–32). The Muster or Inspection Gate (v. 31) was located in the northernmost section of the wall. During the Feast of Tabernacles Jesus stated, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 5:2). I'm a wife, a mom, and a grandma. Peter commissioned us to “Humble [ourselves] … that he may exalt [us] in due time” (1 Pet. We begin with the Sheep Gate. Philippians 3:8 ). In other words, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Dung Gate: Apparently not the original Dung Gate; this is farther north, as the “tail” of Nehemiah’s Jerusalem was cut off. This was exactly what I was hoping to find. 2, 5, 7, 27). The nation of Israel was challenged to depart from Babylon: “go out from there, touch no unclean thing; go out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD” (Isa. At the gates of the temple (see 1 Chron. When the Jewish people returned to their homeland after the Babylonian Captivity, Jerusalem lay in ruins. In our Christian experience we should be living with this in mind. All Content © 2021 Israel My Glory is an outreach ministry of the friends of israel gospel ministry, Nehemiah: The Reading of the Law and Revival, *Free PDF Book Download - What on Earth is God Doing? Rebuilding of the Walls around Jerusalem in the Second Temple period by Nehemiah Click on the picture to enlarge The entire city of Jerusalem, including the Temple, was destroyed in c. 586 B.C. Some of the work assignments were given according to vocations. The Valley Gate (2: 13 ; 3: 13 ). The consensus of opinion locates it close to the site of the present-day Damascus Gate. 22, 28). 6:6–14). 4. All of Jerusalem’s refuse and rubbish was taken out through the dung gate, down … Opinions differ 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. 3. the first sixteen verses refer to Jerusalem, and the latter sixteen verses to Zion (or the city of David), south of Moriah. 3:8). Your email address will not be published. . We enter God’s “City” through these Gates; Matthew 5:14; Hebrews 11:10; 12:22 C. These Gates reflect the restoration of Kingdom Principles in the lives of God’s people D. Nehemiah spent four months, from December to April, praying over the "great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem" and its gates that were destroyed by fire. The Old Gate reminds us of the old nature of Christians. “[Thanksgiving and Prayer] We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.”. It derived its name from the location where the Siloam Tunnel emerged from the ground with water from the Gihon Spring, the fountain par excellence of Jerusalem. Completion of the Wall--Transition: Nehemiah had the doors hung and ordered those appointed to guard the gates and the city due to its internal vulnerability--no people 7:1-4. a. Our earthly Jerusalem has been the epicenter of turmoil, but the The Twelve Gates of Jerusalem - Healing in the Hebrew Months Jerusalem means “city of peace,” and we know that’s not true in the natural, but for New Jerusalem, the heavenly city, it sure fits. The word for inspection is found in only three other passages: 2 Samuel 24:9 and 1 Chronicles 21:5, where it means numbering or mustering, and Ezekiel 43:21, where it means the appointed place for the sin offering to be burned. In order to understand the significance of the twelve gates being inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes, … It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. 22:16) and as “the Sun of righteousness” to Israel (Mal. It was so named because it led to the Hinnom Valley, south of Jerusalem, where refuse was dumped. In studying the names and associations of these ten gates, we also encounter reflections of spiritual applications for our lives today. The horse gate speaks to us of warfare as horses were used in battle and became a symbol of war. NEHEMIAH – The Twelve Prophetic Gates . A study of these, and a comparison with ch. People were assigned to work on sections of the wall or gates near their homes, which provided the motivation needed to complete the work. This means learning the old ways of truth that NEVER change. Even the daughters of one ruler were involved in the difficult work (v. 12). It was a most arduous task, for in conquering the land the Babylonians had leveled the walls and debris had settled over the area. Thank you for sharing and the in-depth details of the gates and their meanings. The Horse Gate (v. 28) was on the east side of the Temple overlooking the Kidron Valley. It was called the Fish Gate because merchants brought fish from Tyre or the Sea of Galilee through it to the fish market (13:16). It was the place where Nehemiah began and ended his nighttime inspection of the walls (2:13–15). The fountain gate is located extremely close to the dung gate. The Old Gate (v. 6) was situated in the northwest corner and is identified with the Corner Gate of 2 Kings 14:13 and Jeremiah 31:38. Valley experiences are used by the Lord to clear away the rubbish so that true faith, refined by the fire, can come forth and produce fruit. They marched the entire wall and finally took their place in the Temple of God. (*1) In Neh. 2:8). The Muster or Inspection Gate can pertain to the Judgment Seat of Christ. Nehemiah Chapter 3 Bible Study - Gates of Jerusalem. 2:3) and to be fully equipped to fight the good fight of faith (Eph. We are challenged to be diligent students of the Scripture in order to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim. In Nehemiah chapter 3, we find examples of this. Perhaps all the opposition, affliction, and reproach they had... VANCE HAVNER once said, “Contending for the faith is not easy. I appreciate your work and organizing the bridge of meaning between the gatesm Jesus and our lives. Register of priests and Levites—dedication of the wall—Two large choirs marched on the wall around Jerusalem. The heavenly city will have three gates on each side—one gate for each of the tribes of Israel. A young Christian having experienced the sheep gate, then the fish gate, soon sees the need for experiencing the old gate. Jesus is the door through which sinners can enter the sheepfold and be redeemed (Jn. As in the time of Nehemiah and his faithful laborers, much work remains to be done today. Jesus compared Himself to water, a type of God’s Word, when He spoke to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well (Jn. Nehemiah Meets the Task In chapter three of the Book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah and his helpers have undertaken to repair and restore the walls of Jerusalem after the return from seventy years under Babylonian captivity. • In the New Jerusalem there are to be twelve gates (Revelation 21:12),8 and each several gate of one pearl; so that, look upon the city from which- ever standpoint one may, he will be reminded of the precious truth that Christ “loved the Church, and gave Himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). The gates are miraculous in their construction: “The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl” (verse 21). The church needs both dedicated leaders and workers who have “a mind to work” for the Lord until He returns for His own. Tuesday Morning Bible Study. Revelation 19:11 ‘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.’ Every Christian is in a Spiritual war whether we know it or not. 1:9). The Gate of the Fountain (v. 15-25) Illustrates the ministry of the Holy Spirit; see John 7:37-39. He therefore devised a plan to delegate the work, as described in chapter 3. The Fountain Gate (v. 15) was northeast of the Dung Gate, near the Pool of Siloam by “the king’s garden” (2 Ki. The East Gate suggests the return of Christ, which will take place in two stages. The Dung Gate suggests the need for constant cleansing. This is where the rubbish is removed and this is what happens in our own life. 14:10–12). This gate points to Jesus’ first coming 2000 years ago as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). ), The old Gate speaks to us of the old ways of truth. When the repairs to the Inspection Gate and the section of the wall to the corner were completed, the work had come full circle back to the Sheep Gate (v. 32), which, as stated above, represents the cross. In Nehemiah's time, it was a wall that united the people together. Nehemiah’s task was enormous, especially under the adverse conditions he encountered. 10 Gates that will help us in our Spiritual Progress. 1, 32) was located on the northeast corner of the wall. A specific crown is even given to those who do this (2 Tim 4:8). I believe that each of the gates speak of different experiences in our Christian life that we need to … coming out of Jerusalem went through a Gate. The building of the wall and gates begins from the Sheep Gate in Nehemiah 3, because everything begins from the offering of the Lamb (Jesus Christ). The Twelve Gates of Jerusalem (Nehemiah, chapters 3 and 12). 44:1-2) is seen as the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ (Ezekiel 43:2; Matthew 21:1–11). We are to put off the tenets of the old nature and walk in the newness of Christ’s life (Col. 3:5–17), so that sin has no dominion over our daily lives (Rom. And the sons of the singers gathered together from the countryside around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites, from the house of Gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth; for the singers had built themselves villages all around Jerusalem. The Dung Gate. The 2nd Gate mentioned in Nehemiah is the Fish Gate. Ezekiel 44:1-2 “The man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east, and it was shut. The Sheep Gate is the 1st Gate mentioned in Nehemiah 3. 7:37–38). Every believer should heed God’s great commission (Mt. I have a passion for Jesus because He literally drug me out of the pit, washed me clean, and made me new. Mankind is described as wayward sheep (Isa. It is not pleasant business. To accomplish the task, Nehemiah assigned specific work places to individuals and families, as evidenced by the constant repetition of the phrases “next to him,” “next to them,” and “next to that” throughout this chapter. When the Jewish people returned to their homeland after the Babylonian Captivity, Jerusalem lay in ruins. It appears glamorous and glorious, but it is more often lonely and thankless. 33:14). It is recorded that Jesus ran just once and that was when He cleaned up the temple. The Sheep Gate is a reminder of the cross. Through Israel, we have admittance into the Kingdom of God, the Messiah is from Israel, and God promised Abraham the father of Israel, through him all the peoples of the earth will be blessed. Learn how your comment data is processed. 4:5–14). The Gates Of Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s Day. Everything begins with the offering of the Lamb of God. The circumference of the walls was approximately two and one-half miles, encompassing approximately 220 acres. It led out to the main road north from Jerusalem that descended to the coastal plain through Beth-Horon. And he unloaded that burden on the Lord. The valley gate speaks to us of humbling and trials – valley type experiences used by the Lord for our personal growth. 7:1). And, finally, the “prince” to whom the gate will be opened (Ezekiel 46:12) is seen as Christ Himself at the second coming—the Prince of Peace will return to the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4) and enter Jerusalem by way of the re-opened Eastern Gate. Never easy but the Christian needs to remember that in the natural nothing really grows on the mountain tops, but it certainly does down in the valleys. It contrasts God’s ways and will with our old lifestyle before we began to walk with Him (Jer. It also avoided wasting time traveling to other parts of the city and assured the workers that they would be near their homes to protect their families in the event of an attack. These gates were not only integral in the rebuilding of Jerusalem, but contained within each of them are hidden (sod) spiritual messages about God’s plan for individuals and also His Grand plan of redemption for mankind. See also the Plan of Zion, and Solomon's buildings. The Valley Gate (v. 13) was located in the western section of the wall. But it is also a picture of the work God is doing in the restoration of His Church - the spiritual City of God ( He. the location of nehemiah’s wall and gates The Jerusalem that King David conquered from the Jebusites covered only about 12 acres and was defined on three sides by high ridges and deep valleys. Christ set the example by humbling Himself (Phil. When the task was done, Israel’s enemies “perceived that this work was wrought by [Israel’s] God” (6:16). The Berlin Wall has gained fame as a wall that divides, but the city of Jerusalem is also famous for its walls. 3:16–17). 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. . •Gates are a city’s most vulnerable places. The Fish Gate was a gate in the north wall, just a little to the east of the modern Damascus gate. This is where the enemy seeks entrance. . Sometimes it comes in a very subtle manner, and at other times it comes through strong, open resistance. This is an inspiring example of what can be accomplished when God’s people work together under dynamic leadership. This gate reminds us of our need to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ (2 Tim. He is the door by which everyone must enter to be saved (John 10: 7-9). This was such a pleasure to read. The Sheep Gate is the first gate mentioned in Nehemiah. 2:15). The Meaning of the Gates of Jerusalem and Spiritual Progress. Christians are “bought with a price” (1 Cor. The sheep Gate is the only gate that was consecrated (set apart as Holy/Nehemiah 3:1). Being a leader is an unenviable calling. a. After we complete our valley experience, the result is clearly seen in this next gate – the dung gate. 4:7). It was so named because sheep were led through it to the Temple. Other vocations included goldsmiths (v. 8), perfume makers (v. 8), rulers of districts and half districts (vv. The remaining gates are the Flower, or Herods Gate, the Lion Gate, the Dung Gate, and the New Gate. “The people had a mind to work” (4:6) backed by determination to see the project completed. It led into the lowly Tyropoeon Valley and is in the area of the present-day Jaffa Gate. (Matthew 4:19 And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. They consecrated it and set its doors. 12:3). Jan 12, 2008 #1. There were 10 “Gates” in Old Jerusalem. The Scriptures state that “he that winneth souls is wise” (Prov. 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 (vv. The Sheep Gate was also near the Pool of Bethesda (Jn. The latter part of Chapter 12, to which we turn this morning, tells the story of the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem. 12, will explain most of the difficulties connected with the topography of the city. The Water Gate (v. 26) was part of the palace-Temple complex rather than in the wall. View all posts by TFJ. "Keeping the ward, at the thresholds of the gates": Of the temple, where they stood and watched. THE 12 GATES OF NEHEMIAH A. 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. A careful observation of the Book of Nehemiah reveals even more important tasks than rebuilding the Jerusalem city wall in order to rebuild the people of God. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Among the material possessions Maxine and I hold dear is an old oak dining room table. Here the markets were held (2 Kings 7:1), and the special commodities in these gave names to the gates (Nehemiah … We shall grow in knowledge. It has many perils. The job required an unusual organizational structure-a team effort. It was a most arduous task, for in conquering the land the Babylonians had leveled the walls and debris had settled over the area. 52:11). It was so named because it led to the city’s main source of water, the Gihon Spring. After the Rapture of the church, every believer will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to “give an account of himself to God” (Rom. It was the closest gate to the fish market, and it is believed that fishermen from the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River, Jewish and Syrian alike, used this gate to bring fish to market. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel” (verse 12). Particularly interesting and often overlooked in the book of Nehemiah is the story behind the gates of Jerusalem. The people entered the Temple through this gate, on their way to worship the Lord and present their offerings and sacrifices to Him. Each person will be judged “according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10) and will be rewarded “according to his own labor” (1 Cor. Thus, restoring the gates was a necessary element in rebuilding the walls and securing the city. Then he shall go out, and after he has gone out, the gate will be shut.”, The glory of the Lord coming into the temple (Ez. 126:6). And the gates of the New Jerusalem will never be never shut (verse 25). The city of Jerusalem had twelve gates, each with a significance in the daily life and historical experience of natural Jerusalem. The fountain gate is located near the pool of Siloam and was often used by the people for cleaning before proceeding on to the temple. It is no coincidence that this gate was located next to the fountain gate as the two often go together. New Jerusalem Gates Tribal Gates: Ezekiel 48:30–35 and Revelation 21:9–27 describe the New Jerusalem. 21, 23–24, 26, 28–30). Provision for the Protection of Jerusalem--Nehemiah Secures the City from without: 7:1-3. We are to become “fishers of men” (Mt. 10:1–9). Jesus Christ is the beginning of our spiritual journey. The spiritual meaning of the Fish Gate is that after our redemption we begin to follow Jesus, making us, his disciples, ‘fishers of men’. This speaks to us of the living waters of the Holy Spirit that cleanse our lives and empower us for our Christian life. Ten gates are mentioned in chapter 3, proceeding counterclockwise from the north wall of the Temple. Nehemiah 12. This occurs in this life as indicated by Paul in 1 Cor 4:4: ‘For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.’ The ultimate fulfilment is at the Bema seat of Christ (as spoken of in 1 Cor 3:10-15, 2 Cor 5:10) where our lives are inspected and rewarded appropriately. The East Gate (v. 29) was directly east of the Temple area, located below the present-day Golden Gate. The Water Gate can be related to the Word of God. The word in Hebrew has a military connection and according to tradition it was at this gate that David would meet his troops to inspect them.This gate speaks to us of the examination of our lives by the Lord. Now ultimately these gates are what you would see in the book of Revelation, the twelve gates. There were several valleys surrounding Jerusalem and this gate apparently opened out to the valley of Hinnom. We are called to live our lives with eternity in view, caring more for the things of eternity than the temporal that we see around us. The Sheep Gate: The hidden meaning is Salvation Neh. The Jebusites had built a massive wall on the vulnerable north side of the city. The Sheep Gate, Fish Gate, and Old Gate were located in the northern section of the wall. Required fields are marked *. It apparently encompassed a large area, for the reading of the law took place there (8:1, 3, 16). He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water” (Jn. For instance, the high priest and other priests were assigned to rebuild the Sheep Gate (v. 1), which was important to the priests because animals were brought through that gate to the Temple for sacrificial offerings. So intense were the laborers in completing the task of rebuilding the walls and gates that the job was completed in 52 days (6:15). In the age to come, the city of Jerusalem will have 12 gates, with 12 angels guarding these gates, the gates will be named after the 12 tribes of Israel. Nehemiah 12:25 "Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, [were] porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates." Although a new Christian may experience a “honeymoon period”, sooner or later the valley gate must come. The filth of the city was carried out through this gate, reminding us of the constant need to be cleansed from the sinfulness of the flesh and spirit. 11:10; 12:22 ). Jeremiah 6:16 states ‘Thus says the Lord, Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls.’. Jesus said: ‘Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:38). He will return first for His own (Jn. The elders sat at this gate judging and rendering decisions in matters brought before them. The gates of Jerusalem have a very clear spiritual meaning. For the latter purpose “broad” or open places (distinguished from the “streets” in Proverbs 7:12) were provided (1 Kings 22:10; Nehemiah 8:1), and these were the centers of the public life. It is … They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel. Nehemiah rebuild the Walls and Gates. 5:6). But there’s a spiritual meaning to what’s been left in ruins when he rebuilds the gates. The Sheep Gate represents the starting point for every Believer. The horse gate was close to the King’s stables and the men of Jerusalem would ride their horses out of this gate to war. 4:2). Nehemiah comes and he sees the devastation, a terrible devastation. In Ezekiel 46:12 we read that there is one person, a “prince” who may enter via the eastern gate: Ezekiel 46:12: “When the prince provides a freewill offering to the LORD . That was the burden of his heart. A GATE gives access to the City; it is a seat of power, authority and influence; 1 Chronicles 9:22-23. 3:13). Nehemiah 2:17 - "Then I said to them, You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Assignments were made in accordance with Nehemiah’s master plan. The Order of the Gates is intentional because it represents our spiritual journey. All our works will be tried by fire to determine their value for Christ (1 Cor. And he goes to the king after weeping over the city, and asks the king for a mandate to rebuild what’s been left in ruins. Nehemiah Meets the Task In chapter three of the Book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah and his helpers have undertaken to repair and restore the walls of Jerusalem after the return from seventy years under Babylonian captivity. My name is TFJ, which stands for Thankful for Jesus. It was the gate through which horses entered and exited the palace area, and the horse stables were probably located near it. Jesus Himself challenged believers to positions of humble servitude, stating, “whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Lk. The Dung Gate was located in the southern section of the wall (v. 14). The Holy Spirit is the one who makes the word of God alive to us personally, allowing cleansing, encouragement and direction to take place in our life. 5:18). The Fountain Gate alludes to the Holy Spirit. The Water Gate led down to the Gihon Spring which was located adjacent to the Kidron Valley. Compare 2 Chronicles 26: 9. NOTES: Nehemiah Chapter 3 - The Gates of Spiritual Progression Pastor Mark Colton – November 24, 2013 (PM Service) The rebuilding of the walls and specifically the ten gates that separated each section. Nehemiah 3:14. 6:20), the blood of God’s Lamb, Jesus Christ. 11:30) and “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves [souls] with him” (Ps. The Sheep Gate (vv. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 53:6) who need a shepherd to lead them into God’s eternal sheepfold (heaven). The Eastern Gate was sealed shut in AD 1540–41 by order of Suleiman the Magnificent, a sultan of the Ottoman Empire. People would bring their lambs and sheep to the Temple for the sacrifices through this gate. . 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 final gate is the inspection gate, also known as the Miphkad gate. Nehemiah 11 Nehemiah ... Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the city gates. Much work needed to be done, and Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah each led groups of the returned remnant in rebuilding the city of Jerusalem. Jeremiah 39: 4 ). 25:4) and led into the Kidron Valley. . Between the Sheep Gate and the Fish Gate were the Tower of Hammeah (hundred) and the Tower of Hananel (12:39). Your email address will not be published. 4:19) in response to Jesus’ call to His disciples. Like Hidden Treasure! The Temple, the city walls, and the gates had been destroyed as a result of the three invasions of Nebuchadnezzar and … One proceeded towards the Dung gate while the other went to the left. Nehemiah, Cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, returned to Jerusalem with the King’s decree to repair Jerusalem’s walls and gates which had remained in disrepair and ruin since the time of the Babylonian exile. Pastor Carolyn Sissom . February 23, 2016, the Year of Our Lord. The Valley Gate represents humility and our willingness to occupy a lowly place in the Lord’s service. 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. 1:15–16). 9–12, 14–19), Levites (v. 17), and merchants (vv. The book of Nehemiah is a book of restoration, a record of the rebuilding of the walls and gates of natural Jerusalem. The Lord said to me, ‘This gate is to remain shut. The Eastern Gate of Jerusalem is also called the Golden Gate or the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:2). B. Spiritual Gates The hidden meaning of the 12 gates of Jerusalem 1. It is to remain shut because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it.’”. 6:10–18; 2 Tim. I know He will do the same for you, if you let Him. by Renald Showers, *Complete Access to Our Growing Archive—Eventually Back Through Our Inaugural Issue In 1942, *Free Full-Issue PDF Downloads of Current Issues and Select Archives. The command to permanently shut the gate because the Lord Jesus Christ has entered it (Ezekiel 44:2) is seen as a prediction of the walling-up of the Eastern Gate by the Muslims in AD 1540. The Horse Gate is a reminder of the believers’ warfare because the horse is a symbol of war.