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The Timnah gate. Excavations of the Iron Age city at Tel Batash have revealed the remains of a massive two-part gate complex, consisting of a huge outer gate and a somewhat smaller inner gate.

As seen in this reconstruction, access to the city was via a ramp that lay parallel to the city wall and which led through an entrance in the outer gate. This design would expose attackers to a lengthy barrage from defenders along the city wall. After passing through the outer entrance, attackers would find themselves in a courtyard between the two gates. Here they would have to make a right turn, losing their momentum, in order to pass through the entrance in the inner gate and into the city.