Psalm 23:7
Lift up your gates, O ye princes: and: be ye lifted up, O eternal gates, and the King of glory shall enter in.
Haydock
Verse 7. Princes; or, “lift up your chief or highest gates:” portas principes. Heb. “gates, lift up your heads.” Here the gates themselves are addressed, while the Sept. and Vulg. turn the discourse to the porters or princes. Bert. — The tops of the gates must be raised, to let the triumphal car pass through. Isai. vi. 4. Amos viii. 3. and ix.
- The Church has constantly understood this passage of Christ’s ascension. The saints in his train address the angels, who appear to be filled with astonishment. Theod. Euseb. C. — The gates of heaven are more properly styled eternal, than those of the temple, which were not yet erected; or of Jerusalem, which should be (Bert.) soon demolished. H. — This apostrophe to the gates is very striking, commanding them to allow more room for the crowd to pass in the train of the conqueror, who was usually seated on a lofty chariot. C. — The prophet contemplating the ascension of Christ, inviteth the angels to receive him; and by the figure, prosopopeia, speaketh also to the gates by which he is to enter. W. — Homer (Il. 8.) represents the Hours as door-keepers of heaven removing a thick cloud, which obstructs the entrance. H. — These gates are supposed to open, by being lifted upwards. The Greeks style them cataracts. Gen. vii. 11. Tournemine.