The Gate of Mercy is also known as
the Golden Gate or Eastern Gate. Palestinians
took over the area inside the wall last Friday and seem to be claiming a
victory. They argue that Israel wants to
turn the space into a site for prayer. Palestinians
also hold the view that the area belongs to them (and not to Israel).
Mahmoud
Al-Habbash claimed that the “Golden Gate” is part of Muslim doctrine. In other words, it does not belong to the
Jewish People. This claim should not be
too surprising for in the past Al-Habbash
denied that Palestine and even Jerusalem itself is the Jewish Promised Land.
However, there is evidence that a gate
already existed during Second Temple Judaism.
Jesus most likely entered the city through the gate from the Mount of
Olives after which he entered the Temple (Mk 11:11; Mt 21:10:11; and Lk
19:37). The Mishnah refers to the gate
to the city, though calls it the Eastern Gate through which the high priest
would go forth to the Mount of Olives on special occasions (m. Middot 1:3). The prophet Ezekiel shares a vision in which
he sees the eastern gate and learns that it will be closed up until the Lord,
the God of Israel will enter (Eze 44:1-3).
The prophet Zechariah envisions the LORD standing on the Mount Olives;
on that day the LORD will come and enter into judgment against the hostile
nations; the LORD will become king over all the earth; the LORD will be One;
those who survive from the nations will come up to Jerusalem and worship the
LORD of Hosts and keep the Feast of Booths (Ezk 14:1-16).
The present gate as it now stands
is closed from the outside. It is
uncertain when it was closed and when the gate was actually constructed. In 1969, James
Fleming accidently discovered another gate beneath the existing gate.
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| Golden Gate from a Distance |
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| Golden Gate Closeup |
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