GATE, EAST. The most magnificent gate of Jerusalem, called the “Beautiful Gate” in Acts 3:2, 10. It was called the King’s Gate after the return from the Exile (1 Chron 9:18) and had a special keeper as early as Hezekiah’s day (1 Chron 31:14; cf. Neh 3:29). The Water Gate is also known as the east gate in this period (Neh 12:37 RSV).

The east gate plays an important role in Ezekiel’s visions in the following ways: (1) the cherubim of the vision recorded in the tenth ch. are said to have stood at the door of the east gate of the house of the Lord with the glory of God over them (Ezek 10:19); (2) at the door of the gateway, Ezekiel also was shown by the Spirit twenty-five men guilty of iniquity and wicked counsel in Jerusalem (11:1, 2); (3) it was the first gate to be measured in Ezekiel’s vision during the twenty-fifth year of exile (40:1-16); (4) it was the gate where Ezekiel saw the glory of God enter the Temple after which the glory of the Lord filled the Temple (43:1-4); (5) and it was the gate that was opened for the prince when he offered a burnt offering or a peace offering to the Lord, and was to be shut after he departed (46:12).