Matthew 21:1-2

Jesus and his disciples traveled the 17 miles from Jericho to Bethany along the Roman road. They climbed about 3,000 feet in elevation between those towns. Bethphage ("house of figs") lay slightly farther west than Bethany also on the southeast slope of the Mount of Olives. It no longer exists, and its exact location is unknown, but it had messianic connotations (Zechariah 14:4; cf. Ezekiel 11:23; Ezekiel 43:1-5). It may have been the name of that district and the name of a little village close to Jerusalem where the district began. [Note: Edersheim, The Life . . ., 2:364.] When Jesus approached Bethphage He instructed two disciples to go into that village and bring a donkey and its colt to Him. Most people, except the wealthy, walked everywhere in first-century Palestine. [Note: France, The Gospel . . ., p. 775.] This is the only record of Jesus riding an animal. He was preparing to recreate the return of King David to Jerusalem in peace and humility (2 Samuel 19-20) and the entrance of Solomon into Jerusalem for his enthronement (1 Kings 1:38-40; cf. Genesis 49:10-11). On both occasions these kings rode either a donkey or a mule.