נחמיה, פרק ג׳, פסוק ג׳

Constructing the entrances to a fortified city was a demanding task that required significant resources and specialized craftsmanship, proving to be a far more complex undertaking than simply erecting a standard wall [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The responsibility for one such entrance, known simply as the Fish Gate [רש"י], was assigned to the family of Senaah from the tribe of Benjamin [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. In this specific area, the original structure had collapsed entirely, requiring the workers to reconstruct everything from the very foundation. This total rebuilding stands in contrast to other sections of the city, where the work merely involved repairing breaches and reinforcing an existing structure [מלבי"ם].

The primary approach among commentators is that the builders laid down wooden beams to create a solid roof over the newly built gate [רש"י, אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד]. Expanding on this idea, others explain that they constructed a covered hall at the front of the gate, providing a safe shelter from rain and storms for those who gathered there [רלב"ג]. Once the main physical structure was complete, the builders installed the doors along with their locking mechanisms, which included the specific tools and frames used to securely close the entrance [רש"י, ר' סעדיה גאון, רלב"ג, מצודת דוד]. To guarantee the gate was completely sealed, they also fitted long bars. These poles were threaded horizontally behind the doors, spanning the entire width of the entrance to reinforce the closure and prevent anyone from forcing the gate open from the outside [רלב"ג, מצודת דוד].