Bible Encyclopedias
Bath-Rabbim, the Gate of

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

bath -rab´im , (שׁער בּת־רבּים , sha‛ar bath -rabbı̄m ; Septuagint ἐν πύλαις θυγατρὸς πολλῶν , en púlais thugatrós pollō̇n , literally "in the gates of the daughter of the many." The gate of Heshbon near which were the pools compared to the Shulammite's eyes (Song of Solomon 7:4 ). Guthe would translate "by the gate of the populous city." Cheyne would amend the passage and read

"Thine eyes are like Solomon's pools,

By the wood of Beth-cerem,"

and transfer the scene to the pools of Solomon, S. of Bethlehem (EB , under the word). But this is surely very violent. One of the pools of Heshbon still survives, measuring 191 ft. X 139 ft., and is 10 ft. deep. The walls however have been rent by earthquakes, and now no longer retain the water.