Gates

In the Old Testament alone the words “gate” or “gates” appear about 400 times.
Beautiful gate: the name of one of the gates of the Temple (Act 3:2). It is supposed to have been the door that led from the court of the Gentiles to the court of the women. It was of massive structure, and covered with plates of Corinthian brass. Gate Beautiful was of elegant workmanship, forty cubits wide, it was the grand entrance to the Court of the Women, which was the general place of public worship at the time of the sacrifices. It received its name, not because it was exclusively appropriated to the women, but because the women were not allowed to go beyond it. There were smaller courts in the four corners of this; and on the north, east, and west sides were galleries supported by columns. In front of these columns were distributed the eleven treasure chests of the Temple, in addition to the two at the gate Beautiful, for the half-shekel tax.
Dung-gate: (Neh 2:13), a gate of ancient Jerusalem, on the southwest quarter. "The gate outside of which lay the piles of sweepings and off scouring of the streets," in the valley of Tophet. The Dung gate was a large drain running round the S.W. angle of the Hsaram, to its exit at the extreme S. point of “the city of David” (Zion). This drain indicates the position of the “main-drainage system” of the Temple area, and the adjacent royal buildings, from the time of Solomon and onwards. It was for the disposal of the blood of the sacrificial animal and the water of the ceremonial cleansing, in addition to the sewage from the Levitical quarters, taking all this sewage matter to the lower levels and outside the city.
East gate: (Jer 19:2), properly the Potter's gate, the gate which led to the potter's field, in the valley of Hinnom. East of the Temple and connected with it.
Ephraim, Gate of: one of the gates of Jerusalem (2Ki 14:13; 2Ch 25:23), on the side of the city looking toward Ephraim, the north side.
Fish gate 2Ch 33:14; Neh 3:3; Zep. 1:10
Gate: (1.) Of cities, as of Jerusalem (Jer 37:13; Neh 1:3; 2:3; 3:3), of Sodom (Gen 19:1), of Gaza (Judg 16:3).
(2.) Of royal palaces ( Neh 2:8).
(3.) Of the temple of Solomon (1Ki 6:34,35; 2Ki 18:16); of the Holy Place ( 1Ki 6:31,32; Ez 41:23,24); of the outer courts of the Temple, the beautiful gate ( Act 3:2).
(4.) Tombs ( Mat 27:60).
(5.) Prisons ( Act 12:10; 16:27).
(6.) Caverns (1Ki 19:13).
(7.) Camps (Ex 32:26,27; Heb 13:12).
The materials of which gates were made were,
(1.) Iron and brass (Ps 107:16; Isa 45:2; Act 12:10).
(2.) Stones and pearls (Isa 54:12; Rev 21:21).
(3.) Wood ( Judg 16:3) probably.
At the gates of cities courts of justice were frequently held, and hence "judges of the gate" are spoken of (Deut. 16:18; 17:8; 21:19; 25:6,7, etc.). At the gates prophets also frequently delivered their messages (Pro 1:21; 8:3; Isa 29:21; Jer 17:19,20; 26:10). Criminals were punished without the gates (1Ki 21:13; Act 7:59). By the "gates of righteousness" we are probably to understand those of the temple (Ps.118:19). "The gates of hell" (R.V., "gates of Hades") Mat 16:18, are generally interpreted as meaning the power of Satan, but probably they may mean the power of death, denoting that the Church of Messiah shall never die.
Horse-gate: a gate in the wall of Jerusalem, at the west end of the bridge, leading from Zion to the Temple (Neh 3:28; Jer 31:40).
Old gate: one of the gates in the north wall of Jerusalem so called because built by the Jebusites (Neh. 3:6; 12:39).
Shallecheth, "the gate of casting out," hence supposed to be the refuse gate; one of the gates of the house of the L-rd, "by the causeway of the going up" i.e., the causeway rising up from the Tyropoeon valley = valley of the cheese makers ( 1Ch 26:16).
Sheep gate, an ancient gate of Jerusalem - Neh 3:1, 32; 12:39; Jn. 5:2.
Sheep Gate, Sheep Market: an adjective, used in the grammatically feminine form, in Jn 5:2, "a gate," understood, RV, "sheep gate" (not with agora, "a market," AV, "sheep market"). In the Sept., Neh 3:1,32; 12:39. This "sheep gate" was near the Temple; the sacrifices for the Temple probably entered by it.
Sheep-gate: one of the gates of Jerusalem mentioned by Nehemiah (Neh 3:1,32; 12:39). It was in the eastern wall of the city.
Strait gate: The narrow path toward righteousness, Mat 7:13,14; Lk 13:24
The gate sections of the city walls were essentially watchtowers, as well as entryways, and they were considerably greater in height than the sections of wall between them. The gates were actually towers embracing two walls and two sets of doorways - an outer wall with its huge doors as well as an inner one with its own set of doors. The gateway was actually a room within the wall, within the inner and outer gates in the form of heavy swinging doors. The gates of these cities were usually ornate and beautiful and were quite often associated with the “glory” of the city.
The actual gateway opening was in the form of a gracefully contoured arch. Beside and above the arch were panels of beautiful mosaic work done in a variety of attractive colors. The swinging doors were usually made of thick, heavy wood such as cedar, cypress or even acacia. As a rule, these were beautifully carved and brilliantly painted in a variety of colors. Sometimes they were overlaid with decorative bronze plating for greater strength and protection against fire. Attacking armies might shoot burning darts at the city gates, and if the outside gates were constructed only of wood, they would catch fire.
The huge doors, always hung in pairs arranged to swing inward, turned on great stone fittings. These are the “hinges” referred to in Proverbs 26:14. These gigantic doors were so constructed that strong wooden or metal bars could be fitted into clamps on the inside to firmly unite the two and securely “lock” them shut for protection each night or whenever there was a threat of enemy attack. To “possess the gate” (Gen. 24:60) meant to possess the city.
Immediately inside the city gate there were often beautiful cloisters. These extended along the inside wall in both directions from the exit, and here various civic activities were carried on. The area in front of the gate, inside the wall, provided a large place for public assembly and/or the marketing of food and other merchandise.
Gates of biblical cities were related to all sorts of public affairs and legal and civil transactions; it was a natural meeting place. The city gate was also the obvious place to hold large assemblies. It was symbolic of the nation’s strength and military prowess.
In this wide-open area, markets were held, tribunals were conducted, prophets and teachers proclaimed their messages, and the riffraff of the town gathered. Scribes were also available in their alcove offices along the wall to read and write important or legal documents for those who were unable to do this for themselves.
Since so many important assemblages and activities were conducted in the gates of a city, a seat among the elders in the gates was a high honor. Oppression in the gates was a synonym for corruption and the miscarriage of justice. And kings held public audiences in the open area immediately inside the gates.
Yeshua likened Himself to the gate of the kingdom of G-d, saying, “I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (Jn. 10:9)
The gate or door is the only means of entrance: only through Yeshua can men come into the presence of the Father or enter into His kingdom.