John Gill Commentary John 8:1

"but Jesus went unto the mount of Olives." — John 8:1 (ASV)

Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives .
Which lay eastward of Jerusalem, about a mile from it; Christ went to this mount on the evening of the last day of the feast of tabernacles; partly to decline the danger, and avoid the snares the Jews might lay for him in the night season; having been disappointed and confounded in the daytime;

and it may be for the sake of recreation and diversion, to sup with his dear friends Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, who lived at Bethany, not far from this mount; and chiefly for private prayer to God, on account of himself as man, and for his disciples, and for the spread of his Gospel, and for the enlargement of his interest; this being his common and usual method, (Luke 21:37) .