Judea · NT
Bethany
The village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives where Jesus stayed with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.
Today: Al-Eizariya, Palestinian West Bank
Bethany was a small village about two miles east of Jerusalem on the road over the Mount of Olives toward Jericho. Its name probably means 'house of the poor' or 'house of dates.' It was the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, and Jesus' regular base of operations during Passion week.
Three of the most memorable scenes in the gospels are set in Bethany: the raising of Lazarus from the tomb (John 11); the supper at which Mary anointed Jesus' feet with costly perfume (John 12); and the ascension of Jesus, who led his disciples out 'as far as Bethany' before lifting up his hands and being carried up into heaven (Luke 24:50-51).
Key verses
"Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha."
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"Jesus therefore six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead. So they made him a supper there: and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that sat at meat with him. Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment."
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"Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,"
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"And he led them out untilthey were over against Bethany: and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven."
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