The parts of the doorwaj'' were the threshold (C]Oj Judg. xix, 27 ; Sept. Trpo- Ovnov, Vulg. limen'), the side-posts (Pt^Tp ; araB- Hoi ; itterque pottis), and the lintel (Z,^p'3'2 ; ^\ia, siiperlbninare, Exod. xii, 7). It was on the lintel and side-posts that the blood of the Passover lamb was sprinkled (Exod. xii, 7, 22). A trace of some similar ])ractice in Assj-rian worship seems to have been discovered at Nineveh (Layard, Nin. ii, 256). Gates were generally protected by some works against the surprises of enemies (Jer. xxxix, 4). Sometimes two gates were constructed one behind anotlier, an ent- er and inner one, or there were turrets on both sides (2 Sam. xviii, 24, 33; sec Faber's Archreology, p. 30p. The gates of the ancients were genenilly secured witli
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strong, heavy bolts and locks of brass or iron (Dent, iii, 6; 1 Sam. xxiii, 7; 1 Kings iv, 13; 2 Cliron. viii, 5; Jer. xlv, 2 ; xlix, 31 ; Psa. cxlvii, 13). This was prob- ably done witli a view to the safety of the town, and to jjrevent hostile inroads (Harnier's Observations, i, 188). The keys of gates, as well as of doors, were generally of wood; and Thevenot observes that gates might be opened even with the finger put into the key- Ijole — from which Harmer elucidates the passage in the Song of Solomon, v. 4. The doors tliemselves of the larger gates mentioned in Scripture were two- leaved, plated with metal (Judg. xvi, 3 ; Nell, iii, 3-15; Psa. cvii, 16; Isa. xlv, 1, 2). Gates not defended by iron were of course liable to be set on fire by an ene- my (Judg. ix, 52).
The gates of towns were kept open or shut accord- ing to circumstances : in time of war they were closed against the inroads of the enemy (Josh, ii, 5), but thej' were opened when the enemy had been conquered. On festive occasions they were also thrown wide open, to which Psa. xxiv, 7 alludes. This opening of the gates, as well as closing them, was done by means of keys. That near the gates towers were often con- structed, serving for defence against attacks of the en- eni}', may be inferred from Deut. iii, 5; 2 Sam. xviii, 24; Judg. ix, 35, comp. with 52. So Juvenal (.S'«^ vi, 290) puts the towers of the gates for the gates them- selves. Virgil (^iw. vi, 550) represents the infernal gate as having a tower. Enemies, therefore, in be- sieging towns, were most anxious to obtain possession of the gates as quickly as possible (Deut. xviii, 52 ; Judg. ix, 40; 2 Sam. x", 8; xi, 33; 1 Kings viii, 37; Job V, 4; Isa. xxii, 7; xxviii, 6); and generall}- the town was conquered when its gates were occupied by the invading troops (Deut. xxxviii, 57 ; Judg. v, 8). This observation is made also by several Greek and Koman authors (Herodian, Histor. 1, 12, § 14; Virgil, yEii. ii, 802 sq.). In or near the gates, therefore, they placed watchmen, and a sufficienth^ strong guard, to keep an eye on the movements of the enemy, and to defend the works in case of need (Judg. xviii, 16 ; 2 Kings vii, 3 ; Neh. xiii, 22 ; see Herodian, His/or. iii, 2, § 21 ; Virgil, yEn. ii, 265 sq., 365). Regarded, there- fore, as positions of great importance, the gates of cities were carefully guarded and closed at nightfall (Deut. iii, 5; Josh, ii, 5, 7; Judg. ix, 40, 44; 1 Sam. xxiii, 7; 2 Sam. xi, 23; Jer. xxxix, 4; Judith i, 4). They contained chambers over the gateway, and prob- ably also chambers or recesses at the sides for the va- rious purposes to which they were applied (2 Sam. xviii, 24 ; Layard, Niii. and Bab. p. 57, and note). In the Temple, Levites, and in houses of wealthier class- es and in palaces, persons were especially appointed to keep the gates (Jer. xxxv, 4 ; 2 Kings xii, 9 ; xxv, 18; 1 Chron. ix, 18, 19; Esth. ii, 21; ^I'^yjp ; Sept. Ovpiopol, TTvXoopoi ; Y ii]g. poriarii, jimifoi-es). In the A. V. these are frequently called "porters," a word whicli has now acquired a different meaning. The chief steward of the household in the palace of the shah of Persia was called chief of the guardians of the gate (Chardin, vii, 369).
M'e read that some portions of the law were to be written on the gates of towns, as well as on the dc^rs of houses (Deut. vi, 9 ; xi, 20) ; and if this is to be liter- ally understood (comp. Isa. liv, 12; Rev. xxi, 21), it
receives illustration from the practice of the Moslems in painting passages of the Koran on their public and private gates (Maundrell, E. T. ]i. 488 ; Lane, Mod. Eg. i, 29 ; Rauwolff, Travels, pt. iii, chap. 10 ; Ray, ii, 278). Various artificial figures and inscriptions were en- graved on their gates by the Romans (Virgil, Georg. iii, 26 sq.). See Post.