Site of a 2,000 year old structure that is reputed to be the House of Martha and Mary, Bethany is naturally a popular pilgrimage destination, though there is some controversy about whether it is the exact site of the original village. Bethany is located in what is known today, in Arabic, as “al-Eizariya” (Place of Lazarus) in the West Bank, referring to the west bank of the Jordan River. Approximately 1.5 miles east of Jerusalem on the southeast slope of the Mount of Olives, Bethany is also known as the site of the Tomb of Lazarus and the home of Simon the Leper. It is thought to be a stop on Jesus’ route before he entered Jerusalem and may be the place where he appeared to the Apostles before the Ascension. Though it may not be the precise site of the ancient village, Bethany is thought to have developed on the lands surrounding the cave that was a short distance away from the family home of Martha and Mary.
The ancient Bethany was a refuge. According to the Temple Scroll from Qumran, there were three places for the care of the sick, including one for lepers, located east of Jerusalem. John writes in 11:1-12:11 that Jesus received urgent word of Lazarus’ illness from Bethany. According to Mark 14:3-1, Simon the Leper lived in Bethany. Suffice it to say that Bethany is a must-see destination in any trip to the Holy Land.
