39. The gate of Ephraim. This gate, which must have been located between the Broad Wall and the Old Gate, is not mentioned in the description of the building of the wall in 3. Either it had not been in need of repair or the part of the list mentioning it has been lost from the text. From the Gate of Ephraim the procession continued along the top of the wall and “above,” or over, the gatesâthe Old Gate (see 3:6), the Fish Gate ( 3:3), the towers Hananeel and Meah, and the Sheep Gate ( 3:1).
The prison gate. What has been said of the Gate of Ephraim is true also of this gate. It must have been located in the northern section of the eastern wall, south of the Sheep Gate. Passing this gate, Nehemiah’s group must have entered the Temple area, as 40 indicates, perhaps by the Gate Miphkad (see on 3:31).