Bible Word of the Day
Bethpage (House of Figs)
Meaning
Bethpage was a suburb of Jerusalem. The name Bethpage means “house of figs” and this was probably an indication of what was grown there. It was located a mile or so just outside the city walls, just east of the Mount of Olives. Bethpage was where Jesus sent His disciples to find the donkey which He rode during His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Many artifacts have been discovered there by archeologist who believe the city was continuously inhabited from the second century BC until the eighth century AD. An interesting fact about Bethpage is it was a walled village and it was the only one in the area surrounding Jerusalem. In addition, it was considered by the Sanhedrin (the Sanhedrin served as the supreme court of the nation of Israel) to be an official part or suburb of the city of Jerusalem.
“Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.’ So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David’Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord’ Hosanna in the highest'” (Matthew 21:1-11)