Further Opposition to the Rebuilding

When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates—

I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”

The gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon and their associates, who kept watch at the gates—172 men.

Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates.

When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall.

When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut and not opened until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day.

Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this also, my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.

Will it go down to the gates of death? Will we descend together into the dust?”

Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?

Lord, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,

that I may declare your praises in the gates of Daughter Zion, and there rejoice in your salvation.

Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.

They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death.

Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.

Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem.

He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you.

Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.

The gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground.

Raise a banner on a bare hilltop, shout to them; beckon to them to enter the gates of the nobles.

Your choicest valleys are full of chariots, and horsemen are posted at the city gates.