Matthew 21:1

The Triumphal Entry

21:1 Now ¹  when they approached Jerusalem ²  and came to Bethphage, ³  at the Mount of Olives, ⁴  Jesus sent two disciples,

Mark 13:3-4

Signs of the End of the Age

13:3 So ⁵  while he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, ⁶  and Andrew asked him privately, 13:4 “Tell us, when will these things ⁷  happen? And what will be the sign that all these things are about to take place?”

[21:1]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

[21:1]  ² map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[21:1]  ³ sn The exact location of the village of Bethphage is not known. Most put it on the southeast side of the Mount of Olives and northwest of Bethany, about 1.5 miles (3 km) east of Jerusalem.

[21:1]  ⁴ sn “Mountain” in English generally denotes a higher elevation than it often does in reference to places in Palestine. The Mount of Olives is really a ridge running north to south about 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) long, east of Jerusalem across the Kidron Valley. Its central elevation is about 30 meters (100 ft) higher than Jerusalem. It was named for the large number of olive trees which grew on it.

[13:3]  ⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of previous action(s) in the narrative.

[13:3]  ⁶ tn Grk “and James and John,” but καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.

[13:4]  ⁷ sn Both references to these things are plural, so more than the temple’s destruction is in view. The question may presuppose that such a catastrophe signals the end.