Matthew 21:1

Matthew 21:1, ὅτε ἤγγισαν ἐ. Ἱ., when, etc. The evangelist does not, like a modern tourist, make formal announcement of the arrival at a point near Jerusalem when the Holy City came first into view, but refers to the fact in a subordinate clause. The manner of entry is the more important matter for him. εἰς Βηθφαγὴ, to Bethphage = the house of figs, mentioned here and in the synoptical parallels, nowhere else in O. or N. T., but from Talmudic sources appears to have been a better known and more important place than Bethany (Buxtorf, Talm. Lex., p. 1691). No trace of it now. εἰς τ. Ὄ. τ. Ἐλαιῶν, to the Mount of Olives; the εἰς, in all the three phrases used to define the position, means near to, towards, not into. τότε, then, introducing what for the evangelist is the main event. Bengel's comment is: vectura mysterii plena innuitur. It is possible to import too much mystery into the incident following.