The “city gate” (actually the public square within the main gate leading into the city) was where the local Hebrew elders would meet to discuss and decide the major issues affecting the community. The Chichewa functional correspondent would be the mphala, an open area in the village (often situated near the chiefs house) where similar activities are carried out and more; i.e., the men often eat here and gather also to play games and to work at various trades (e.g., basket making, wood carving, carpentry, etc.) Since the “gate” was so important in Hebrew culture, and hence in biblical literature, it would be advisable to retain the reference to form, if possible, coupling this with an indication of its function, either by a descriptive phrase (e.g., “at the meeting place”) or in combination with the culturally specific term (e.g., “at the mphala by the gate of the city”).

Source: Wendland 1987, p. 181.