Fish Gate
“Gate of the fishes”
Summary
One of the gates of ancient Jerusalem, named for the fish brought through it from the Sea of Galilee or Mediterranean, located on the north side of the city near the Tyropeon valley.
☩Location and Etymology
The Fish Gate (Hebrew: sha'ar haddagim, 'gate of the fishes') was one of the gates in the wall of ancient Jerusalem. It is generally considered that the gate stood across the Tyropeon valley in much the same position as the modern Damascus Gate, only considerably farther south. The gate derived its name from the fish brought to the city by that route from the Sea of Galilee or possibly the Mediterranean, or from fish being sold there. Gesenius identified it with the present gate of St. Stephen.
☩Biblical History
King Manasseh 'built an outer wall to the city of David, on the west side of Gihon in the valley, even to the entrance at the Fish Gate,' indicating this was a new or rebuilt wall for the eastern side of the city. After the Babylonian exile, the Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah, who laid its beams and set up its doors, bolts, and bars. Nehemiah mentions it in describing the dedication procession that passed by the gate. Zephaniah prophesied that there would be 'the noise of a cry from the Fish Gate' on the day of the Lord's judgment.
☩The Fish Trade
The gate was probably so called because here the men of Tyre sold their fish. Nehemiah records that 'men of Tyre also dwelt therein, who brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem,' though this practice was condemned as Sabbath-breaking. The Fish Gate is very probably identical with the 'Middle Gate' mentioned in Jeremiah's account of the Babylonian capture of Jerusalem.
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Fish-Gate," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. III (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Fish Gate," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).