The Spiritual Meaning of the Gates of Jerusalem

The Sheep Gate Neh. 3:1 And *Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests. And they built the Sheep Gate. They sanctified it and set up its doors. Even to the Tower of Meah they sanctified it, to the Tower of Hananeel.

In scripture, there are instances in which some issues in the Old Covenant have spiritual meanings in New Covenant. In Nehemiah chapter 3, we find examples of this. The gates of Jerusalem have a very clear spiritual meaning. 

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 (Jesus Christ).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 sanctified, setting it apart as a special gate.)

Jesus Christ is the High Priest of the New Covenant, who is the Lamb, who was offered for the sake of our sins. As the spiritual high priest, 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).   (John 10:7 Then said Jesus to them again, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. American King James Version)

*It is very significant that Eliashib in Hebrew means 'God restores.' It is not an accident that, as high priest, he rebuilt  the Sheep Gate and the walls surrounding it.  

The Fish Gate Neh 3: 3 But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.

 
The significance here is that fishermen brought in through this gate fish to sell in the market. The spiritual meaning of the Fish Gate is  that after our redemption we begin to follow him,  making us, his disciples, 'fishers of men'. In other words, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 4:19 And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.)

The Old Gate Neh 3:6 Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.

 When we pass through the Old Gate, which spiritually speaking, we die out to the old man. Jesus Christ does not repair the old man, but makes a new man through the regeneration in the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit)

Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit leads us in righteousness,  killing the deeds of our flesh. The Old Gate represents that the old 'us' must die, because the new 'us' has been reborn. The Holy Spirit gives to the believer the power to resist temptation and choose God's righteousness instead of sin. Without the death of the flesh, a believer cannot truly follow God's will. This is grace at work, and by it we have ability to walk and live according to the will of God.

The Valley Gate Neh 3:13 The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate.

The Valley Gate represents the  journeys of Jesus' disciples.

{Gen. 26:19 And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.

Deut. 8:7 For the LORD your God brings you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;
Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.
Ezek. 3:22 And the hand of the LORD was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with you.}

We, as Jesus' disciples, must understand the bringing of our flesh under subjection so that we can begin our journey with God. Genesis 26:19 tells us that by digging in the valley, Isaac's servants found a well of springing water. The purpose of digging was to find water and, spiritually, we are to dig deeper than the outer surface to find what God has in store for us.

The Dung Gate Neh 3:14 But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof;

While the Valley Gate represents the realization of the flesh brought under subjection, the Dung Gate represents how we put it into practice. Through the Dung Gate, refuse was taken out of Jerusalem, to the valley of Hinnom, where it was burnt. In the same way that trash would not have been left to stink up the city, so must sin be taken out the heart of believer and destroyed. 

Under the Old Covenant, the burnt offerings of animals represents the subjection of the flesh in the New Covenant. These were animals, cut in pieces, and then burnt. The offering animals inward parts and feet were washed with pure water. This teaches us that dying out to self is a process; we subdue the flesh 'piece by piece', as the offering was also burnt in pieces. The inward parts and feet, which were washed with pure water, represents the renewing of our minds, and difference in our actions.

The Fountain Gate 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, located near the pool of Siloah (Siloam), is where water flowed. The pool of Siloam is the place where Jesus said to the blind man to wash, John 7:9. At the time of Nehemiah and afterward, many washed themselves before they entered to temple area. The representation of the Fountain Gate tells us that God,  through the Holy Spirit, is our source for healing and spiritually cleanliness.

The Water Gate Neh 3:26 Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.

In the Old Testament, water  represented the Holy Spirit. The spiritual meaning of the Water Gate is living an obedient life guided by the Holy Spirit. Whereas the Fountain Gate represents being bathed, or baptized, by the Holy Spirit, the Water Gate represents ingesting it, so that it lives inside of us.

The Horse Gate Neh 3:28 From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.

The Horse Gate was located next to the horse stables. Horses were used in the wars against enemies. The spiritual meaning of the Horse Gate is 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.

The East Gate Neh 3:29 After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate.

The Eastern Gate was where freewill offerings were given by the king, to be distibuted to the people by the keeper of the gate.

{ 2 Chronicles 35:7-8 And Josiah gave to the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all for the passover offerings, for all that were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bullocks: these were of the king's substance. And his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and to the Levites: Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave unto the priests for the passover offerings two thousand and six hundred small cattle, and three hundred oxen.
2 Chronicles 31:14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the LORD, and the most holy things.}

The spiritual meaning of the East Gate is that, once we become established in God, we are to share our blessings with others.



 The Gate Miphkad (aka The Inspection Gate)Neh 3:31 After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith’s son unto the place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and to the going up of the corner.

Miphkad means numbering, as in a census,  and an appointed place. The Gate Miphkad is the gate through which we must pass when we die.

Psalm 39:4 LORD, make me to know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment.

 The Order of the Gates

The order of the gates is a clear order of growth in the faith. The description in the book Nehemiah about repairing the wall and the gates starts at the Sheep Gate and ends at the Sheep Gate (Neh 3:32.) Everything begins with our redemption in Jesus Christ and ends with it, because it is foundation of our salvation. 

Notice that the city of Jerusalem in Nehemiah's time was roughly shaped like a footprint. If we successfully pass through each of these gates, then when our life is finished, we should have completed a journey that has left a footprint for God on the world.