Bethany in Easton's Bible Dictionary
house of dates. (1.) The Revised Version in John 1:28 has
this
word instead of Bethabara, on the authority of the
oldest
manuscripts. It appears to have been the name of a
place on the
east of Jordan.
(2.) A village on the south-eastern slope of the
Mount of
Olives (Mark 11:1), about 2 miles east of Jerusalem,
on the road
to Jericho. It derived its name from the number of
palm-trees
which grew there. It was the residence of Lazarus
and his
sisters. It is frequently mentioned in connection
with memorable
incidents in the life of our Lord (Matt. 21:17;
26:6; Mark
11:11, 12; 14:3; Luke 24:50; John 11:1; 12:1). It is
now known
by the name of el-Azariyeh, i.e., "place of
Lazarus," or simply
Lazariyeh. Seen from a distance, the village has
been described
as "remarkably beautiful, the perfection of
retirement and
repose, of seclusion and lovely peace." Now a mean
village,
containing about twenty families.
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