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◄ Valley Gate►

Topical Encyclopedia

The Valley Gate is a significant location mentioned in the Bible, particularly in the context of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem during the time of Nehemiah. It is one of the gates of Jerusalem that played a crucial role in the city's defense and daily life.

Biblical References:

The primary reference to the Valley Gate is found in the Book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah, a Jewish leader and cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, was instrumental in the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls after the Babylonian exile. The Valley Gate is mentioned inNehemiah 2:13 andNehemiah 3:13.

·Nehemiah 2:13 : "So I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Well of the Serpents and the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and the gates that had been destroyed by fire."

·Nehemiah 3:13 : "Hanun and the residents of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and installed its doors, bolts, and bars, and they repaired a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Dung Gate."

Historical and Geographical Context:

The Valley Gate was located on the western side of Jerusalem, opening towards the Valley of Hinnom. This valley, also known as Gehenna, held significant historical and religious connotations, often associated with judgment and purification in later Jewish and Christian thought.

The gate's strategic position provided access to the valleys surrounding Jerusalem, which were essential for trade, agriculture, and defense. The Valley Gate's proximity to the Valley of Hinnom also made it a critical point for monitoring any potential threats approaching from the west.

Symbolic Significance:

In the narrative of Nehemiah, the Valley Gate represents a point of transition and inspection. Nehemiah's night journey through this gate symbolizes a period of assessment and preparation for the monumental task of rebuilding Jerusalem's walls. The successful repair of the Valley Gate, as recorded inNehemiah 3:13, signifies the collective effort and dedication of the people in restoring their city and fortifying it against future threats.

The Valley Gate, like other gates of Jerusalem, holds a deeper spiritual symbolism. Gates in biblical literature often represent points of decision, transition, and access. The Valley Gate, opening towards the Valley of Hinnom, can be seen as a reminder of the choices between life and death, blessing and curse, that the people of Israel faced.

Theological Reflections:

From a theological perspective, the Valley Gate's restoration is a testament to God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises to His people. The rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls under Nehemiah's leadership is a powerful narrative of renewal, hope, and divine providence. It underscores the importance of community, leadership, and reliance on God in overcoming challenges and restoring what has been broken.

The Valley Gate, therefore, is not just a physical structure but a symbol of spiritual vigilance and the readiness to confront and overcome the adversities that threaten the integrity and security of God's people.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

Valley Gate

VALLEY GATE

(sha`ar ha-gay', "Gate of the Gai"): Is placed (Nehemiah 3:13) between the "tower of the furnaces" and the "dung gate"; from here Nehemiah (2:13) set out on his ride down the "Gai" (Hinnom) to Siloam, and, too (12:31, 38), from here the Levites commenced their compass of the city in two directions. It must have been an ancient gate, for Uzziah added towers to it (2 Chronicles 26:9). It was probably near the Southwest corner of the city and near to, if not identical with, the gate found by Bliss near (now in) the Protestant Cemetery.

SeeJERUSALEM, VI, 13.

E. W. G. Masterman

Library

Nehemiah's Answer to a Call for Help
... I went out by night through theValley Gate, toward the Dragon's Well and to the
DungGate; and I examined carefully the walls of Jerusalem which were broken...

TheValley of Hinnom.
... part of thevalley of Kedron was called also the 'Valley of Hinnom.' Jeremiah, going
forth into thevalley of Hinnom, went out by thegate "Hacharsith, the Sun...

The Girdle of the City. Nehemiah 3
... of mount Sion. On the west was, 1. "Thegate of thevalley," verse 13, being
now gotten to the foot of mount Acra. And, 2. A thousand...

A Young Man who Said, "Send Me"
... And Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the CornerGate and at theValley
Gate and at the corner of the wall, and fortified them....

Mount Olivet. The Mount of Olives, 2 Samuel 15:30
... From the Horse-gate, westward, runs out thevalley Kedron, in which is a brook,
whence thevalley takes its name"embracing Sion also on the north, and...

A Description of Some Parts of Ancient Jerusalem.
... Thegate by which Jesus left the town was at no great distance from anothergate
more towards the south, leading down to thevalley, and where a road, turning...

The Description of Jerusalem.
... The second wall took its beginning from thatgate which they called "Gennath," which...
of the Fuller," and joined to the old wall at thevalley called the...

TheValley of Achor
... rather a grimgate for despair to come in at. The trouble which knits us to God
gives us new hope. That bright form which comes down the narrowvalley is His...

The Last Agony
... for he, at all events, knew who had set the strangers by the middlegate.... entrance
of the besiegers; two walls, which probably ran down thevalley between Zion...

In the Last, the Great Day of the Feast'
... Here was the so-called Fountain-Gate,' and still within the City-wall the Pool of...
stated it was at the merging of the Tyropoeon into the KedronValley, in the...