10 Facts About Bethany

Bethany or what is locally known as Al-Eizariya or al-Azariya, is a Palestinian town in the West Bank.

The name al-Eizariya refers to the New Testament figure Lazarus of Bethany, who according to the Gospel of John, was raised from the dead by Jesus.

Root meaning and origin of the name Bethany has been the subject of much scholarship and debate.

For example, E Nestle's Philologica Sacra suggests that Bethany is derived from the personal name Anaiah, while others have suggested it is a shortened version of Ananiah, a village of Bethel mentioned in the Book of Nehemiah.

Bethany is recorded in the New Testament as a small village in Judaea, the home of the siblings Mary of Bethany, Martha, and Lazarus, as well as that of Simon the Leper.

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Bethany described the village as being "well-peopled", with the inhabitants being saracen.

Since the Six-Day War in 1967, Bethany has been occupied by Israel, and lands to the east of the village were declared a closed military zone, cutting farmers off from the lentils and wheat crops they cultivated on the hilltops where Maaleh Adumim was later established.

Tomb of Lazarus in Bethany is a traditional pilgrimage destination.

Capper and others have concluded that ancient Bethany was the site of an almshouse for the poor and a place of care for the sick.

Bethany was the last station on their route to Jerusalem after crossing the river and taking the road through Jericho up into the highlands.