When the bible talks about a gatekeeper is that a good or bad persons?

Answer 1

A gatekeeper could be either good --or-- bad, depending on the purpose of his gatekeeping.

Example A: If there was a gatekeeper for an imaginary place like 'eternal torment in a Fiery Hell'; that would be a bad gatekeeper from both directions;

1) entry into such a horrible place (such a place should be completely destroyed, because it does not reflect love, compassion, and mercy.) --or--

2) IF there is such a place, (and I say IF); then if the job of the gatekeeper is to prevent someone from leaving the place, then he would also be a bad gatekeeper. Reason? If someone in that horrible place became repentant after 5 million years, and asked God for mercy; but the gatekeeper did not let him out of that horrible place; that's a very bad unmerciful, uncompassionate, unloving gatekeeper.

Example B: But if the gatekeeper simply prevented bad things from entering a good area; then he would be a good gatekeeper.

-- Picture The Bible's promise of a NEW EARTH. That would be a good place. Therefore if the gatekeepers job is to prevent 'evildoers' from entering into that NEW EARTH; then he would be a good gatekeeper.

-- Also: If the gatekeeper would prevent 'wolves' from entering into the 'sheepfold', then that would be a good gatekeeper too. Or if he would chase a 'wolf' out of the 'sheep pen', then he would be a good gatekeeper too.

Answer 2

They were assigned by families for guard duty at the various gates, without regard to age or training, for it was all decided by means of sacred lots.