Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

BETHANY

(Gk. Bēthanía)

1. A village probably on the lower slope of an eastern ridge of the Mount of Olives, ca. 3 km. (2 mi.) E of Jerusalem. The Latin name Lazarium, traceable to the 4th century c.e. and used of both the village and an early church built on the traditional site of Lazarus’ tomb, is probably reflected in the current Arabic name of the village, el-Azariyeh (174131). The name Bethany may derive from Heb. bêṯ ʿănanyâ, “house of the poor/afflicted.” The Benjaminite village near Jerusalem referred to in Neh. 11:32 as Ananiah may be the same place. Artifacts and tombs excavated in a nearby area attest to settlement as early as 1500 b.c.e., and pottery finds in the immediate vicinity indicate that Bethany was continually occupied from the 6th century on.

The NT identifies Bethany as the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Jesus visited Bethany six days before the Passover and was anointed there by Mary (John 12:1-8). He was also anointed there by an unnamed woman in the house of Simon the Leper (Matt. 26:6; Mark 14:3), and his ascension was near there (Luke 24:50).

Pilgrims have visited the traditional crypt of Lazarus in Bethany since at least the 4th century c.e. Excavations in the early 1950s uncovered evidence of four churches, the earliest dating to the late 4th century.

2. “Bethany beyond the Jordan,” the place where John the Baptist baptized (John 1:28). The location of this Bethany is unknown, but it seems to be a city on the west side of the river (cf. Jdt. 1:9).

Bibliography. W. H. Mare, The Archaeology of the Jerusalem Area (Grand Rapids, 1987); S. J. Saller, Excavations at Bethany (1949-1953) (Jerusalem, 1957).

Scott Nash

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

BETHANY

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)