The geography of Bethphage, Bethany, and the Mount of Olives sets the stage for a ceremonial ascent to Jerusalem — cresting the mount gives the first view of the city and temple.

Bethphage and Bethany are near the Mount of Olives, which is very close to Jerusalem — not a large mountain in the modern Western sense since the whole area is elevated thousands of feet. The Mount of Olives is where the famous photos of Jerusalem (with the Dome of the Rock) are taken from. Cresting the mount is the moment travelers first see the city and temple — a special, ceremonial moment. Bethany is where Lazarus and his sisters lived; Jesus had a place to stay there. Bethphage's exact location is uncertain — a small hamlet whose existence is confirmed by first-century sources, though some scholars dismiss it because they forget the Bible is itself a historical source.