BETHESDA, the "House of Mercy," John v. 2, better per haps Bethzatha or Bethsaida, a pool or public bath in Jerusalem, where miraculous cures were believed to be performed. The fol lowing identifications have been suggested : Birket Israeli, near St. Stephen's gate ; a large cistern, near St. Anne's church ; the "Twin Pools," north of the Haram (the ancient Temple area) ; the Hammam esh-Shi f a'—or pool of healing, west of the Haram ; the Virgin's fountain, south of the Haram ; and the "Pool of Siloam." Which, if any, of these identifications is correct, it is impossible to say.
See E. W. G. Masterman, "The Pool of Bethesda," in Palestine Exploration Fund Quarterly Stat., 91 seq. (1921) ; R. A. S. Macalister, A Century of Excavation in Palestine, 137 seq. (1925).