BEZETHA (βηζαθα, βηζεθα, βεσαθη). - The highest of the 4 hills of Jerusalem mentioned by Flavio Giuseppe (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 moat of the Antonia and extended north of the city beyond the second wall. In the time of Erode Agrippa the new city (Kainopolis: V, 2, 12) had arisen there,
which Flavio Giuseppe (Bell. Iud., II, 19, 4) distinguishes from B., but elsewhere identifies with II. It is uncertain whether the timber market belonged to B. (ibid., loc. cit.).
Agrippa began to enclose B. with a wall having towers of marvellous size and construction, commonly identified with the present one, which passes through the Damascus gate. Modern archaeologists, however, identify it with the remains of the wall discovered in 1925, 400–500 m farther north, which only Fathers Vincent and Barrois, adhering to the traditional opinion, attribute to the time of Bar-Kökhēbhāh (132–35). During the war of 70 B. was set on fire by Cestio Gallo, then stormed and destroyed
by Tito, who had the circumvallation wall run through II.
The name B. is interpreted by Flavio Giuseppe and by Heidet as “new city,” by others as “house of the olive tree” 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 moat of the Antonia, V. BETHSAIDA.