An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

Secondly, to be crushed in the gate, is to be crushed or cast in judgement; for The gate was the place of old, where justice was ¹administered and judgement given; and for a man to be crushed in the gate, is as much as for a man to be overthrown in his sure, when he hath any controversy or trial before a Judge, whether for his estate or for his life. So this phrase, They are crushed in the gate, implies that all businesses shall go against them, if they have any controversy in law, or if they be charged with any crime they shall certainly be condemned.

Secondly, to be crushed in the gate, is to be crushed or cast in judgement; for The gate was the place of old, where justice was ¹administred and judgement given; and for a man to be crushed in the gate, is as much as for a man to be overthrowne in his sure, when he hath any controversie or tryall before a Judge, whether for his estate or for his life. So this phrase, They are crushed in the gate, implies that all businesses shall goe against them, if they have any controversie in law, or if they be charged with any crime they shall certainly be condemned.

1. 1Inportis judicia exercebantur. Merc.

I need not stay to prove that judgement was given in the gate; only take a few texts. First, in this book (Chap. 29. 7.). Job describes his own prosperity thus, When I went out to the gate, that is, to sit in judgement; And Chap. 31. v. 21. the word is used in the like sense; So Gen. 23. 17. Chap. 34. 20. Ruth 4. 1. Isa. 29. 11. Those words of the curse,