Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 11:2

"and saith unto them, Go your way into the village that is over against you: and straightway as ye enter into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat; loose him, and bring him." — Mark 11:2 (ASV)

The approach to Jerusalem was through Bethany and Bethphage. Bethphage (“house of figs”) was a village close to Jerusalem; Bethany, located on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, was about two miles from Jerusalem (cf. Jn 11:18). The Mount of Olives is directly east of the city, rising to an elevation of about twenty-six hundred feet.

Jesus sent two of his disciples, probably to Bethphage, to get a donkey colt (cf. Matthew 21:2). Because of the prophecy of Zec 9:9, the donkey was considered the beast of the Messiah. Jesus stipulated that the colt must be an unused one. Such animals were regarded as especially suitable for sacred purposes (cf. Numbers 19:2; 1 Samuel 6:7).