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beth´a-ni (ΒηθανιÌα, BeÌ„thanıÌa):
(1) A village, 15 furlongs from Jerusalem (), on the road to Jericho, at the Mount of Olives (; ), where lived “Simon the leper†() and Mary, Martha and Lazarus ( f). This village may justifiably be called the Judean home of Jesus, as He appears to have preferred to lodge there rather than in Jerusalem itself (; ). Here occurred the incident of the raising of Lazarus (Jn 11) and the feast at the house of Simon (-13; -9; -50; :1-8). The Ascension as recorded in -51 is Thus described: “He led them out until they were over against Bethany: and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven.â€
Bethany is today el ‛Azarēyeh (“the place of Lazarus†- the L being displaced to form the article). It is a miserably untidy and tumble-down village facing East on the Southeast slope of the Mount of Olives, upon the carriage road to Jericho. A fair number of fig, almond and olive trees surround the houses. The traditional tomb of Lazarus is shown and there are some remains of medieval buildings, besides rock-cut tombs of much earlier date (PEF, III, 27, Sheet XVII).
(2) “Bethany beyond the Jordan†(; the King James Version Bethabara; ΒηθαβαÏαÌ, BeÌ„thabaraÌ, a reading against the majority of the manuscripts, supported by Origen on geographical grounds): No such place is known. Grove suggested that the place intended is BETH-NIMRAH (which see), the modern Tell nimrı̂n, a singularly suitable place, but hard to fit in with ; compare . The traditional site is the ford East of Jericho.