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derived its name. The "higher gate" opened from the "upper" [or inner] court - that of the
priests - into the lower, which was that of the people (2 Kings 21:5; 23:12; 2 Chronicles
33:5). Each of these two courts was bounded by a wall. Probably the general ingress into
the Temple was by the outer northern gate.* Thence the worshippers would pass through
the lower, outer, or people's court to the second wall** that bounded the inner, upper, or
priest's court, which extended around the Temple house.
- There were four gates opening from the outer, or bounding, wall of the Temple: north,
south, east, and west, (comp. the watchposts of the Levites, 1 Chronicles 26:14-18. But
Bishop Haneberg (Relig., Alterth. p. 226, 4) infers that there were six gates - that is, two
(not one) respectively in the south and west. In the Temple of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 40:6-16,
20 -22, 24-27) only three gates are mentioned: North, East, and South.
** For this wall see 1 Kings 6:36; 7:12. Comp. Josephus, Ant. 8. 3, 9.
Thus the worshippers, or at least those who brought sacrifices, would have to enter by
this northern gate which Jotham rebuilt. As the inner or upper court lay on a higher level,
we find that in the Temple of Ezekiel eight steps are said to lead up to it (Ezekiel 40:31,
34, 37), and such was probably also the case in the Temple of Solomon. Close to this
"higher gate" - at the right hand, as you entered it - the chest for the collection of money
for the Temple repairs had been placed by Jehoiada (2 Kings 12:9). Lastly, from its
designation by Ezekiel (8:5), as "the gate of the altar," we infer that it formed the
common access for those who offered sacrifices. Its later name of "new gate" was due to
its reconstruction by Jotham, while the passages in which it is mentioned indicate that
this was the place where the princes and priests were wont to communicate with the
people assembled in the outer court (Jeremiah 26:10; 36:10).
Nor were the operations of Jotham confined to Jerusalem. "And cities he built in Mount
Judah [the hill country], and in the forests [or thickets, where towns could not be built],
castles [forts], and towns [no doubt for security]." To complete the record of that reign
we add that the expedition of the previous reign against Ammon was resumed, and the
Ammonites were forced to pay an annual tribute, not only of the produce of their fertile
lands (10,000 Kor* of wheat and as many of barley), but of a hundred talents of silver, or
about. 37,500 pounds.** But, as the sacred text implies (2 Chronicles 27:5), this tribute
was only paid during three years.
- The Kor (more anciently designated Homer or rather Chomer)= ten Ephah - thirty
Seah=100 Omer or Issaron ("tenth," viz. of an Ephah)= 180 Qabh ( bq; ). According to
the Rabbis the Qabh held = twenty-four egg shells. Roughly speaking, the Kor would be
less than "a quarter."
(^)