Loading...
BiblicalTraining's mission is to lead disciples toward spiritual growth through deep biblical understanding and practice. We offer a comprehensive education covering all the basic fields of biblical and theological content at different academic levels.
Read More

Dung Gate

DUNG GATE. One of the eleven gates of Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s time (see Neh.2.13; Neh.3.13-Neh.3.14; Neh.12.31). It was located near the SW corner of the wall and was used for the disposal of rubbish, garbage, and dung. It led out to the Valley of Hinnom.



DUNG GATE (־שַׁ֖עַר הָאַשְׁפֹּ֑ת, the gate of the ash-heaps). A postexilic gate on the S side of Jerusalem (Neh 2:13 [dung port, KJV]; 3:13-14, 12:31), leading to the rubbish dump in the Hinnom Valley (2 Kings 23:10). L. Vincent proposes a SW corner, the later “Gate of the Essenes” (Jos. War. V. 4. 2); but most prefer the great gate S of the City of David at the SE corner (J. Simons, Jerusalem in OT, in 123, 124).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

Nine different words occurring in the Hebrew have been translated "dung" in the Old Testament. The word used to designate one of the gates of Jerusalem (’ashpoth, Ne 2:13; 3:14) is more general than the others and may mean any kind of refuse. The gate was probably so named because outside it was the general dump heap of the city. Visitors in recent years riding outside the city walls of Jerusalem, on their way to the Mt. of Olives or Jericho, may have witnessed such a dump against the wall, which has existed for generations.

The first mention made of dung is in connection with sacrificial rites. The sacred law required that the dung, along with what parts of the animal were not burned on the altar, should be burned outside the camp (Ex 29:14; Le 4:11; 8:17; 16:27; Nu 19:5). The fertilizing value of dung was appreciated by the cultivator, as is indicated by Lu 13:8 and possibly Ps 83:10 and Isa 25:10.

Dung was also used as a fuel. Eze 4:12,15 will be understood when it is known that the dung of animals is a common fuel throughout Palestine and Syria, where other fuel is scarce. During the summer, villagers gather the manure of their cattle, horses or camels, mix it with straw, make it into cakes and dry it for use as fuel for cooking, especially in the winter when wood or charcoal or straw are not procurable. It burns slowly like peat and meets the needs of the kitchen. In Mesopotamia the writer saw it being used with forced draft to fire a steam boiler. There was no idea of uncleanness in Ezekiel’s mind, associated with the use of animal dung as fuel (Eze 4:15).

Figuratively: Dung was frequently used figuratively to express the idea


(b) as an expression of disgust (2Ki 18:27; Isa 36:12);

(c) of rebuke (Mal 2:3).

James A. Patch