Note 1 at Joh 8:1: The Mount of Olives is actually a ridge about a mile long directly east of Jerusalem, with three summits, the highest of which rises to almost 2,700 feet above sea level, or about 150 feet higher than Mount Zion. Between the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem lies the Kidron Valley, or Valley of Jehoshaphat. Located on the slopes of this mountain are the Garden of Gethsemane and the towns of Bethphage and Bethany. The summit of the Mount of Olives commands an excellent view of Jerusalem and the temple, and is a "sabbath day's journey" or about three-fourths of a mile from the city.

The mountain is mentioned three times in the Old Testament, in 2Sa 15:30 (as Olivet) and twice in Zec 14:4 where it refers to Jesus' second physical return to earth. It is mentioned twelve times in the New Testament, and Lu 22:39 states that Jesus went there "as He was wont" (or accustomed). His ascension was also from the Mount of Olives (Olivet, Ac 1:12), and He will stand on it and cause it to divide in two when He shall "fight against those nations" that battle against Jerusalem (Zec 14:2-4).