Pottersgate

Potters'Gate (שִׁעִר הִחִרסַית), a gate in Jerusalem which led to the valley of Hinnom (Jer 19:2). It is therefore to be sought on the west side of the city, and is perhaps the same with the Valley gate, so named from that valley; and with the Bethlehem or Jaffa gate of the present day, if not with the Dung gate (see Ewald, Gesch. Israsel's, 3, 66). The Hebrew name seems to be derived from חַרֶס, cheres, a pot (see Gesen. Thesaur. 1, 522). Perhaps the potteries were in the vicinity. Others, as Buxtorf and Ewald, would render the word East gate, but this would not lead to the valley of Hinnom. If the custom had obtained so early of casting useless things into the valley of Hinnom or Topheth, the word might be rendered accurately Potsherd gate, or Refuse gate. The reference in Zec 11:13 is probably not to this gate (Gesen. Thesaur. p. 619). SEE JERUSALEM.