BEZETHA (βηζαθα, βηζεθα, βεσαθη). - The highest of the 4 hills of Jerusalem mentioned by Flavius Josephus (Bell. Iud., II, 11, 6; 15, 5; 19, 4; V, 4, 2; 5, 8; 6, 2; Antiq. Iud., XIX, 7, 2), which began at the deep ditch of the Antonia and extended to the north of the city outside the second wall. In the time of Herod Agrippa the new city had arisen there (Kainopolis: V, 2, 12), which Flavius Josephus (Bell. Iud., II, 19, 4) distinguishes from the B., but elsewhere identifies with it. It is uncertain whether the timber market belonged to the B. (ibid., loc. cit.).
Agrippa began to enclose the B. with a wall with towers of wonderful proportions and structure, which was commonly identified with the present one, which passes by the Damascus Gate. Modern archaeologists, however, identify it with the remains of the wall discovered in 1925 400-500 m. further north, which only the fathers Vincent and Barrois, adhering to the traditional opinion, attribute to the time of Bar-Kökhēbhāh (132-35). During the war of 70 the B. was set on fire by Cestius Gallus, then stormed and destroyed by Titus, who made the circumvallation wall pass through it.
The name B. is interpreted by Flavius Josephus and by Heidet as "new city", by others as "house of the olive" or "of the olive grove" (Bēth-zajith); but more probably it derives from besa' "cleft, fissure", that is, the quarter of the cut rock, with reference to the ditch of the Antonia, v. BETHSAIDA.
Bibliography3 works
Bonaventura Mariani