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Nehemiah's

Gates, Towers, Walls, Wells, Springs and Pools

Sheep Gate (Nehemiah 3:1, 32) The Sheep Gate is the gate through which the sheep and lambs were bought to be used as sacrifices. They were first washed in the nearby . It was located in the vicinity of the priests’ quarter.

Fish Gate (Nehemiah 3:3) The Fish Gate was provided for fisherman from Galilee to bring their catch into the city to be sold.

Old Gate (Nehemiah 3:6) The Old Gate is mentioned only in the book of Nehemiah, and may have been one of the original gates made.

Valley Gate (Nehemiah 3:13) Several valleys surround Jerusalem but this gate may have opened to the valley of Hinnom, or the valley west of the city.

Dung (Refuse) Gate (Nehemiah 3:14) All of Jerusalem’s refuse and rubbish was taken out through the Dung Gate, down to the valley of Hinnom, where it would be burned.

Fountain Gate (Nehemiah 3:15) The Fountain Gate is located near the and was often used by the people for cleaning before proceeding on to the temple.

Water Gate (Nehemiah 3:26) The Water Gate led down to the Gihon Spring which was located adjacent to the Kidron Valley.

Horse Gate (Nehemiah 3:28) The Horse Gate was close to the King’s stables and the men of Jerusalem would ride their horses out of this gate to go to war.

East Gate (Nehemiah 3:29) The East Gate is located on the eastern wall facing the Mount of Olives.

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Muster Gate (Inspection Gate) (Nehemiah 3:31) Also known as the Miphkad Gate, the word in Hebrew has a military connection. According to tradition it was at this gate that David would meet with his troops to inspect them prior to going to war.

Tower of the Hundred (Tower of Hammeah) (Nehemiah 3:1) The Tower of the Hundred is a tower in the walls of Jerusalem, adjoining the Tower of Meah to the east (Hammeah; Hebrew for "the hundred") connecting to the "Sheep Gate" (Nehemiah 3:1; 12:39). It is located on the northern wall of the old city, near the northeast corner, a point of the city always requiring special fortification. It was called Tower of the Hundred because the workers not only rebuilt the Sheep Gate, but also a hundred cubits of the wall, which extended as far as the Tower of Hananel, and was said to be 100 cubits high.

Tower of Hananel (Nehemiah 3:1) The Tower of Meah (or Hammeah, i.e. "the Hundred") and the Tower of Hananel appear to have been situated almost at the same point of the wall. Perhaps they were opposite each other, like the towers in the walls of Babylon. Some believe they may actually be the same tower. (cf. Jeremiah 31:38).

Tower of Ovens (Nehemiah 3:11) The Tower of Ovens is either a tower at the northwestern angle of the city; or midway in the western wall. The origin of the name is uncertain, although the tower may have been near the ovens in the street of the bakers (Jeremiah 37:21) were fresh bread was baked daily.

The Broad Wall (Nehemiah 3:8) The Broad Wall was built during ’s expansion of the city. Jews from the northern tribes of Israel, who had been overrun by the Assyrians, settled outside the city walls to the west on the Western Hill. To protect them and their residences Hezekiah fortified the western part of this newly expanded city around 721 BC with a wall. The uncovered remains of this wall are 23 feet wide and 213 feet long. This portion of the wall ran west from the Temple Mount toward the western corner of the southwestern hill. Evidence uncovered during excavation indicate that Hezekiah had to destroy some homes in order to build it. Isaiah addresses this very issue (Isaiah 22:8-11). The book of Nehemiah places the Broad Wall near the Temple Mount.

Ascent to the Armory at the Buttress (Nehemiah 3:19) There were probably several armories in Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 22:8). This one was called "the Armory of the Buttress" (or "Armory of the Corner") since it was located at the northwestern angle of the wall of the . There was an "ascent" to the armory, either by steps, or by a steep pathway.

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Wall of (Nehemiah 3:27) Ophel was a hill or mound on the southern slope of the Temple Mount (2 Chronicles 27:3; 33:14; Nehemiah 3:26-27). It was surrounded by a separate wall, and was occupied by the Nethinim after the Babylonian Captivity. King Jotham built some of the wall of Ophel (2 Chronicles 27:3); and Manasseh completed the task by surrounding Ophel with a very high wall (2 Chronicles 33:14), that extended around its western, southern, and eastern sides. On the north no wall was needed, since Ophel was protected on the north by the southern wall of the Temple Mount.

Serpent Well (Dragon Well or Jackal Well) (Nehemiah 2:13) A spring on the opposite side of the Valley of Kidron, called "the Dragon Well." It is believed by some the opening of the spring resembled a fictional dragon mouth, while others believe the name comes from its water that twisted through valley in a serpentine course. [The Septuagint calls it: "mouth of the fountain of figs." The Syriac designates it, "the fountain of the hills;" and the Arabic, "the torrent."]

Pool of Shelah (Shelach or Siolah) by the King's Garden (Nehemiah 3:15) The Pool of Shelah was probably designed as a constant source of fresh water in time of siege, and the wall was constructed to protect this pool. It may have been located outside the main wall of the city, but it furnished water to the Royal Garden, near the Kidron and Hinnon valleys (Joseph. 'Antiquities,' 7:11; 2 Kings 25:4).

Gihon Spring The only natural spring of water in or near Jerusalem which originates outside the city wall on the west bank of the Kidron valley. When Sennacherib and the Assyrian army approached Jerusalem, Hezekiah ordered the water be "stopped the upper water course of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David" (:30; 33:14). This was done to prevent the Assyrians from finding water during their siege of the city. This "fountain" or spring is also known as the "upper water course of Gihon." From this fountain Hezekiah constructed a tunnel 1750 feet in length and brings water to the Pool of Siloam.