Expert: J.M.J. West - 8/23/2009

Question
Hi J.M.J., I would be grateful for some help please. I have heard the words 'Beggars Gate' mentioned in the past but can't think where I heard about it. I don't know if it's a reference to the Bible or, if it was in a poem or a saying. Just lately, I have become intrigued to find out what 'Beggars Gate' refers to. If it is a reference to a passage in the bible, could you tell me what it means and what it refers to. Is there some kind of moral it refers to? If it isn't a reference to the bible, do you have any idea on it's meaning?
Thanks in advance for your time
Best Regards
Gary

Answer
Gary,

Thanks for the question.

I'm pretty sure that, if this is a biblical reference, it would refer to one of the gates outside the city of Jerusalem where the Pool of Siloam was.  This was a pool where crippled people would lay, hoping for a miraculous cure in the Pool (cf. John 9), and would also beg for alms (a Hebrew's duty was to give alms).

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pool_of_Siloam

I've not seen any direct reference to "beggar's gate" in any translation that I've searched through, but this is my best guess.

Hope that helps!

Pax Christi,

-J.M.J. West