Bible Dictionary
VALLEY GATE
The Valley Gate was a gate of Jerusalem near the Valley of Hinnom, positioned between the Tower of the Furnaces and the Dung Gate. Nehemiah used it when inspecting the city’s defenses, and it was later included in the procession around the rebuilt walls.
Definition
The Valley Gate was an ancient gate of Jerusalem situated between the Tower of the Furnaces and the Dung Gate. It stood near the Valley of Hinnom and was probably near the city’s southwest corner.
Biblical Usage
Nehemiah departed from this gate to inspect the Valley of Hinnom toward Siloam. Levites later began their procession around the rebuilt city walls from this area. Uzziah had strengthened the gate with towers.
Historical Background
The gate was probably near, or identical with, a gate found near the Protestant Cemetery. Its position is inferred from the order of Jerusalem’s gates and the route associated with Nehemiah’s inspection.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>(sha`ar ha-gay', "Gate of the Gai"): Is placed (Ne 3:13) between the "tower of the furnaces" and the "dung gate"; from here Nehemiah (2:13) set out on his ride down the "Gai" (Hinnom) to Siloam, and, too (12:31,38), from here the Levites commenced their compass of the city in two directions. It must have been an ancient gate, for Uzziah added towers to it (2Ch 26:9). It was probably near the Southwest corner of the city and near to, if not identical with, the gate found by Bliss near (now in) the Protestant Cemetery.</p><p>See JERUSALEM, VI, 13.</p><p>E. W. G. Masterman</p>