Once Joiada and Meshullam had reinforced the damaged stone walls on either side of the gate, they could place timbers vertically against the break in the stone walls, upon which, in turn, they could hang the doors. They would then have added bolts and bars so that the doors could be secured at night or in the event of an attack. The Babylonians had obviously burned all the timbers that once were part of this gate, so new timbers had to be sourced (Nehemiah 2:8).
6 Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Gate of Yeshanah. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.