Bezetha
Residential suburb of Jerusalem, located to the north of the Temple.
Residents or natives
Joseph and Mary of Sephoris - Joseph of Arimathea has a house there.
Description
In the spring of the second year of public life, Joseph of Arimathea invites Jesus into his house in Jerusalem:"I beg you to come to my house in Bezetha for dinner."[1]The Master will have many other occasions to travel through this neighborhood, north of Jerusalem, as there is also an inn where Galileans passing through Jerusalem gather:
"Come to Bezetha tomorrow and look for the house of Joseph the Galilean, the one who sells dried fish, Joseph of Sephoris, near Herod’s Gate and the arch in the square, on the eastern side [...]"[2]
Its Name
Bezetha means "House of Olives."
Where is it mentioned in the work?
GRM 201 GRM 510
Learn more about this place
Flavius Josephus translates this name as "caenopolis" (new city). He provides several detailed descriptions.[3] He concludes:"The hill of Bezetha was, as I said, separated from the Antonia fortress; the highest of all, it was adjacent to the part of the city, and alone, on the northern side, it hid the Temple".[4]This is completely in line with the indications of Maria Valtorta, who precisely writes:
"[...] Bezetha to the north hides most of the view. [Judea]"[5]
Explore
- 31° 46' 55 N / 35° 14' 04 E /
- +758m.
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Notes and references
Article partially based on the Geographical Dictionary of the Gospel by Jean-François Lavère.