The Ephraim Gate, a gate in Jerusalem's wall that was broken down by King Jehoash of Israel during his conflict with King Amaziah of Judah.
The Ephraim Gate was one of the gates in the wall of Jerusalem during the time of the Divided Kingdom. It is mentioned in the context of the conflict between King Jehoash of Israel and King Amaziah of Judah (2Ki.14.13; 2Ch.25.23).
After Amaziah's defeat by Jehoash, the king of Israel came to Jerusalem and broke down a section of the city wall from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate, a distance of about 400 cubits (approximately 600 feet or 180 meters). This action was likely meant to humiliate Judah and demonstrate Israel's military superiority.
The Ephraim Gate was probably located on the north side of the city, facing toward the territory of Ephraim. Its exact location is uncertain, but it may have been situated near the modern-day Damascus Gate or Herod's Gate. The destruction of this portion of the wall would have left Jerusalem vulnerable and symbolized the weakened state of Judah under Amaziah's rule.
Approximate location: 31.777, 35.235 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
2 verses in 2 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H0669
There at Beth-shemesh, Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate—a section of four hundred cubits.
There at Beth-shemesh, Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz. Then Jehoash brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate—a section of four hundred cubits.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.