Bethphage
The suburb of Jerusalem towards Bethany.
Inhabitants or natives
Cleanthes, the Greek cheese merchant, a healed leper, the owner of the colt on which Jesus enters Jerusalem.
Description
Village near Bethany[1] on the east side of the Mount of Olives. This mount, also called "Olivaie", is a ridge 3.5 km long that stretches from north to south, a short distance east of Jerusalem, on the other side of the Kidron. The highest of its three peaks reaches 826 m.
There are two roads from Jerusalem to Bethany. Bethphagé is located on one of them. Jean Aulagnier places it on the northern route passing near Gethsemane. Based on the indications of the entry into Jerusalem, it could rather be located on the southern route. The mount on which Jesus climbs to weep over Jerusalem would then be the Mount of Scandal which is at the altitude of the upper city (about 760 m) and slightly overlooks the Temple and the lower city[2].
Notable events
A leper was healed near there on a Sabbath day[3] - This is the place where the Apostles go to fetch the colt for the triumphant entry on Palm Sunday[4].
Its name
Bethphagé - Bethphagué - means "place of young figs" or "The house of figs".
Today El-Tour.
Where is it mentioned in the work?
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Learn more about this place
Excerpt from the Geographical Dictionary of the Gospel Salton Maria Valtorta, by Jean-François LavèreThis village is mentioned more than twenty times in the work. Jesus stays nearby, with Simon the Zealot (Apostle), just before meeting Lazarus. "You see, Master, that the distance did not exceed the prescriptions of the Law”[5]. Indeed, they were less than a kilometer from Lazarus' house. It is also at Bethphagé that Jesus arranges to meet the Disciples, to go to the Temple: "I, passing through Bethphagé, around the third hour, will enter Jerusalem to solemnly ascend to the Temple”[6]. And it is again from there that the triumphant procession towards Jerusalem begins[7]. "Passing through Bethphagé, through narrow and winding streets, is not easy...”[8] observes the seer. Victor Guérin located Bethphagé "on a kind of ridge that separates the Mount of Olives from the one overlooking Bethany”[9]. This location, authenticated nowadays by archaeology, corresponds exactly to the place described by Maria Valtorta.
Explore
• 31° 43’ 33’’ N / 35° 15’ 04’’ E
• +760m