Bethphage

Bethphage is a village on the Mount of Olives, paired with Bethany on the road approaching Jerusalem from the east. It is named as the staging point for the final approach to the city before the triumphal entry.

A Village on the Mount of Olives

In Mark's account of the approach to Jerusalem, Bethphage is named alongside Bethany at the Mount of Olives as the place from which Jesus dispatches two disciples to fetch the colt: "And when they draw near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sends two of his disciples," (Mark 11:1).

Luke's parallel fixes the same staging point: "And it came to pass, when he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called, of Olives, he sent two of the disciples," (Luke 19:29). Bethphage is paired with Bethany and located at the mount of Olives — the point from which two disciples are sent ahead to fetch the colt, the place from which the final approach to Jerusalem begins.