Mahanaim
MAHANAIM
Two hosts, a place so named because a host of angels here met the host of Jacob, on his return from Padan-aram, Gen 32:1-2 . It lay north of the Jabbok and near Penuel, and afterwards became a Levitical city in the tribe of Gad, Jos 21:38 . It was apparently a town of some strength; for Ishbosheth lived there during his short reign, and David took refuge there during Absalom’s rebellion, 2Sa 2:8 17:24,27.
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Mahanaim
(Hebrew Machana’yin, , two camps, as often, and explained in Gen 32:2 as meaning the heavenly army of God; where the Sept. has ,Vulg. Mahanaim, id est Castra; elsewhere or v, once , sometimes ; Vulg. Manaim, but usually castra), a place beyond the Jordan, north of the river Jabbok, which derived its name from Jacob’s having been there met by the angels (Josephus, , Ant. 1:20, 1) on his return from Padan- aram (Gen 32:2). SEE JACOB.
The name was eventually extended to the town which then existed, or which afterwards arose in the neighborhood. This town was on the confines of the tribes of Gad and Manasseh, as well as on the southern boundary of Bashan (Jos 13:26; Jos 13:30), and was a city of the Levites (Jos 21:38; 1Ch 6:80). It was in this city that Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, reigned (2Sa 2:8; 2Sa 2:12) during David’s reign at Hebron, and here he was assassinated (ch. 4). The choice of this place was probably because he found the influence of David’s name less strong on the east than on the west of the Jordan; at least, it seems to show that Mahanaim was then an important and strong place (comp. 2Sa 2:29; 2Sa 19:32). Hence, many years after, David himself repaired to Mahanaim, where he was entertained by Barzillai, the aged sheik of that district, when he sought refuge beyond the Jordan from his son Absalom (2Sa 17:24; 2Sa 17:27; 1Ki 2:8). In this vicinity also appears to have been fought the decisive battle in the wood of Ephraim, between the royal troops and the rebels (2 Samuel 18). SEE DAVID.
We only read of Mahanaim again as the station of one of the twelve officers who had charge, in monthly rotation, of raising the provisions for the royal establishment under Solomon (1Ki 4:14). Some find a allusion to the place in Son 6:13 (companies of two armies, lit. dance of Mahanaim), but this is doubtful. On the monument of Sheshonk (Shishak) at Karnak, in the 22d cartouchone of those which are believed to contain the names of Israelitish cities conquered by that king a name appears which is read as Ma-ha-n-m -a, that is, Mahanaim. The adjoining cartouches contain names which are read as Bethshean, Shunerm, Megiddo, Beth-boron, Gibeon, and other Israelitish names (Brugsch, Geogr. der nachbarlnder AEgyptens, p. 61). If this interpretation may be relied on, it shows that the invasion of Shishak was more extensive than we should gather from the records of the Bible (2 Chronicles 13), which are occupied mainly with occurrences at the metropolis. Possibly the army entered by the plains of Philistia and Sharon, ravaged Esdraelon and some towns like Mahanaim just beyond Jordan, and then returned, either by the same route of by the Jordan valley, to Jerusalem, attacking it last. This would account for Rehoboam’s non- resistance, and also for the fact, of which special mention is made, that many of the chief men of the country had taken refuge in the city. It should, however, be remarked that the names occur in most promiscuous order, and that none has been found resembling Jerusalem. In Dr. Eli Smith’s Arabic list of names of places in Jebel Ajlh.n (Robinson’s Bib. Researches, 3, Append. p. 166), we find a ruined site under the name of Mahneh, which is probably that of Mahanaim (comp. Schwarz, Palest. p. 231; Keil’s Comment. on Jos 13:26). The same identification was pointed out by the Jewish traveler Hap-Parchi, according to whom it lies about half a day’s journey due east of Bethshan (Zunz, in Asher’s edit. of Benj. of Tudela, p. 40), the same direction as in Kiepert’s Map, but only half as far. Its distance from the Jabbok is a considerable but not fatal objection. Tristram visited the place which he defends at length as the site of Mahanaim, and describes it as well situated for a large town, with considerable remains and a fine pond (Land of Israel, p. 483).
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Mahanaim
two camps, a place near the Jabbok, beyond Jordan, where Jacob was met by the “angels of God,” and where he divided his retinue into “two hosts” on his return from Padan-aram (Gen. 32:2). This name was afterwards given to the town which was built at that place. It was the southern boundary of Bashan (Josh. 13:26, 30), and became a city of the Levites (21:38). Here Saul’s son Ishbosheth reigned (2 Sam. 2:8, 12), while David reigned at Hebron. Here also, after a troubled reign, Ishbosheth was murdered by two of his own bodyguard (2 Sam. 4:5-7), who brought his head to David at Hebron, but were, instead of being rewarded, put to death by him for their cold-blooded murder. Many years after this, when he fled from Jerusalem on the rebellion of his son Absalom, David made Mahanaim, where Barzillai entertained him, his headquarters, and here he mustered his forces which were led against the army that had gathered around Absalom. It was while sitting at the gate of this town that tidings of the great and decisive battle between the two hosts and of the death of his son Absalom reached him, when he gave way to the most violent grief (2 Sam. 17:24-27).
The only other reference to Mahanaim is as a station of one of Solomon’s purveyors (1 Kings 4:14). It has been identified with the modern Mukhumah, a ruin found in a depressed plain called el-Bukie’a, “the little vale,” near Penuel, south of the Jabbok, and north-east of es-Salt.
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Mahanaim
(“Two camps or hosts”.) A place on the Jabbok so-called by Jacob from the two angelic hosts which appeared to him when returning from Padan Aram to Canaan. (See JACOB.) The two may refer to Jacob’s own camp and that of the angels, or rather his division of his party into two, corresponding to which were the two angelic companies, one to guard each. The Speaker’s Commentary less probably makes it, the angels were on his right and his left. Mahanaim was in Gad; assigned to the Levites (Jos 21:38-39). Now Mahneh, on a tributary of the Yabis, which Paine identifies with the Jabbok. The correspondence is striking between the human and the divine, the visible and the invisible agencies in this remarkable history. Jacob’s two companies answer to the two heavenly ones, the face of God and the face of Esau; seeing that first prepares Jacob for seeing this; the messengers of God and those of Jacob; and the name Jabbok, i.e. wrestling, marking the scene of the patriarch’s wrestling with the Lord.
Here Abner fixed the seat of Ishbosheth’s kingdom, being unable to wrest the towns of Ephraim or Benjamin from the Philistines (2Sa 2:8-9). Here Ishbosheth was murdered (2Sa 4:5). Here David fled from Absalom, for it was then Walled and large enough to contain David’s “hundreds” and “thousands.” It had its gates and watchmen (2Sa 17:24; 2Sa 18:1-4; 1Ki 2:8). One of Solomon’s commissariat officers was at Mahanaim (1Ki 4:14.) The Shulamite, i.e. Solomon’s bride, the church, is compared to “the company of two armies” (margin, “Mahanaim,” Son 6:13). Though “one” (Son 6:9) she is nevertheless “two,” the family of Jesus Christ in heaven and that on earth, that militant and that triumphant. Her strength, like Jacob’s at Mahanaim, is Christ and His hosts enlisted on her side by wrestling prayer.
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Mahanaim
MAHANAIM (two camps or two hosts [if the Heb. word is really a dual, which is very doubtful]).An important city E. of Jordan on the frontier of Gad and Manasseh (Jos 13:25; Jos 13:30); it was a Levitical city within the territory of Gad (Jos 21:38; Jos 21:40). It was clearly N. of the Jabbok, as Jacob travelling S. reached it first (Gen 32:2; Gen 32:22). Here Abner made Ish-bosheth, son of Saul, king (2Sa 2:8), and here David took refuge from his rebel son Absalom (2Sa 17:24-27; 2Sa 19:32). Solomon put Abinadab in authority in this city (1Ki 4:14). There is apparently a reference to Mahanaim in Son 6:13 (see RV [Note: Revised Version.] and AVm [Note: Authorized Version margin.] ). The site of Mahanaim is quite uncertain. A trace of the name appears to linger in Mahneh, the name of a mass of ruins in the Jebel Ajln N.W. of the village Ajln. Merrill suggests a ruin called Suleikhat in the Wady Ajln, near its entrance to the Jordan valley; others consider the site of Jerash, which is first mentioned, as Gerasa, in the time of Alexander Jannus, as a likely spot for so prominent and, apparently, so attractive a city.
B. W. G. Masterman.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Mahanaim
It should seem to be a place of some importance when the Israelites were in possession of Canaan, for lsh-Bosheth, Saul’s son, made it the metropolis of his kingdom, (see 2Sa 2:8-9.) Here David retreated from the rebellion of Absalom, (2Sa 17:24) Jacob gave the name to this spot, from the angels he met there. (See Gen 32:2) The margin of the Bible renders it, two hosts or camps.
Fuente: The Poor Mans Concordance and Dictionary to the Sacred Scriptures
Mahanaim
ma-ha-naim (, mahanayim; the Greek is different in every case where the name occurs, Codex Vaticanus and Codex Alexandrinus also giving variant forms; the dual form may be taken as having arisen from an old locative ending, as, e.g. , yerushala(y)im from an original , yerushalem. In Gen 32:21 mahaneh is evidently a parallel form and should be rendered as a proper name, Mahaneh, i.e. Mahanaim): The city must have been one of great strength. It lay East of the Jordan, and is first mentioned in the history of Jacob. Here he halted after parting from Laban, before the passage of the Jabbok (Gen 31:2), and the angels of God met him. Possibly it was the site of an ancient sanctuary. It is next noticed in defining the boundaries of tribal territory East of the Jordan. It lay on the border of Gad and Manasseh (Jos 13:26, Jos 13:30). It belonged to the lot of Gad, and was assigned along with Ramoth in Gilead to the Merarite Levites (Jos 21:38; 1Ch 6:80 – the former of these passages affords no justification to Cheyne in saying (EB, under the word) that it is mentioned as a city of refuge). The strength of the place doubtless attracted Abner, who fixed here the capital of Ishbosheth’s kingdom. Saul’s chivalrous rescue of Jabesh-gilead was remembered to the credit of his house in these dark days, and the loyalty of Mahanaim could be reckoned on (2Sa 2:8, etc.). To this same fortress David fled when endangered by the rebellion of Absalom; and in the forest hard by, that prince met his fate (2Sa 17:24, etc.). It was made the center of one of Solomon’s administrative districts, and here Abinadab the son of Iddo was stationed (1Ki 4:14). There seems to be a reference to Mahanaim in Son 6:13 the Revised Version (British and American). If this is so, here alone it appears with the article. By emending the text Cheyne would read: What do you see in the Shulammite? A narcissus of the valleys.
It is quite clear from the narrative that Jacob, going to meet his brother, who was advancing from the South, crossed the Jabbok after leaving Mahanaim. It is therefore vain to search for the site of this city South of the Jabbok, and Conder’s suggested identification with some place near el-Bukeia, East of es-Salt, must be given up.
On the North of the Jabbok several positions have been thought of. Merrill (East of the Jordan, 433 ff) argues in favor of Khirbet Saleikhat, a ruined site in the mouth of Wady Saleikhat, on the northern bank, 3 miles East of Jordan, and 4 miles North of Wady Ajlun. From its height, 300 ft. above the plain, it commands a wide view to the West and South. One running by the way of the Plain could be seen a great way off (2Sa 18:23). This would place the battle in the hills to the South near the Jordan valley. Ahimaaz then preferred to make a detour, thus securing a level road, while the Cushite took the rough track across the heights. Others, among them Buhl (GAP, 257), would place Mahanaim at Mihneh, a partly overgrown ruin 9 miles East of Jordan, and 4 miles North of Ajlun on the north bank of Wady Mahneh. This is the only trace of the ancient name yet found in the district. It may be assumed that Mahanaim is to be sought in this neighborhood. Cheyne would locate it at Ajlun, near which rises the great fortress Kalater-Rabad. He supposes that the wood of Mahanaim extended as far as Mihneh, and that the name of Mihneh is really an abbreviation of the ancient phrase. Others would identify Mahanaim with Jerash, where, however, there are no remains older than Greek-Roman times.
Objections to either Ajlun or Mihneh are: (1) The reference to this Jordan in Gen 32:10, which seems to show that the city was near the river. It may indeed be said that the great hollow of the Jordan valley seems close at hand for many miles on either side, but this, perhaps, hardly meets the objection. (2) The word kikkar, used for Plain in 2Sa 18:23, seems always elsewhere to apply to the circle of the Jordan. Buhl, who identifies Mahanaim with Mihneh, yet cites this verse (GAP, 112) as a case in which kikkar applies to the plain of the Jordan. He thus prescribes for Ahimaaz a very long race. Cheyne sees the difficulty. The battle was obviously in the vicinity of Mahanaim, and the nearest way from the wood was by the , kikkar, or, since no satisfactory explanation of this reading has been offered by the , nahal, that is to say, the eager Ahimaaz ran along in the wady in which, at some little distance, Mahanaim lay (EB, under the word). The site for the present remains in doubt.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Mahanaim
Mahanaim (two hosts), a place beyond the Jordan, north of the river Jabbok, which derived its name from Jacob’s having been there met by the angels on his return from Padanaram (Gen 32:2). The name was eventually extended to the town which then existed, or which afterwards arose in the neighborhood. This town was in the territory of the tribe of Gad (Jos 13:26; Jos 13:30), and was a city of the Levites (Jos 21:39). It was in this city that Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, reigned (2Sa 2:8), probably because he found the influence of David’s name less strong on the east than on the west of the Jordan. The choice, at least, seems to show that Mahanaim was then an important and strong place. Hence, many years after, David himself repaired to Mahanaim when he sought refuge beyond the Jordan from his son Absalom (2Sa 17:24; 2Sa 17:27; 1Ki 2:8). We only read of Mahanaim again as the station of one of the twelve officers who had charge, in monthly rotation, of raising the provisions for the royal establishments under Solomon (1Ki 4:14). The site has not yet been identified.
Fuente: Popular Cyclopedia Biblical Literature
Mahanaim
[Mahana’im]
The spot on the east of the Jordan where Jacob met ‘the angels of God.’ He exclaimed ‘This is God’s host,’ and named the place Mahanaim, ‘two hosts or camps.’ It is mentioned as on the border of both Gad and Manasseh, which connects it with the brook Jabbok. It fell to the lot of Gad, and a city was built there which was given to the Levites. It was where Ish-bosheth was made king, and where he was murdered. David fled to this city when Absalom revolted, and remained there till his son’s death. Gen 32:2; Jos 13:26; Jos 13:30; Jos 21:38; 2Sa 2:8; 2Sa 2:12; 2Sa 2:29; 2Sa 17:24; 2Sa 17:27; 2Sa 19:32; 1Ki 2:8; 1Ki 4:14; 1Ch 6:80. Identified by some with ruins at Mahneh, 32 23′ N, 35 42′ E; but this is far from the Jabbok, and could scarcely have been in the lot of Gad. In the monument of Shishak at Karnak occurs the name of Ma-ha-n-ma, which is judged to refer to Mahanaim. It is mentioned with Beth-shean, etc.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Mahanaim
H4266
The place where Jacob had the vision of angels
Gen 32:2
The town of, allotted to Gad
Jos 13:26; Jos 13:30
One of the Levitical cities
Jos 21:38
Ish-Bosheth establishes himself at, when made king over Israel
2Sa 2:8-12
David lodges at, at the time of Absalom’s rebellion
2Sa 17:27-29; 1Ki 2:8
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Mahanaim
Mahanaim (m’ha-n’im), two camps. A town east of the Jordan, named by Jacob. Gen 32:1-2. It was assigned to the Levites, Jos 13:26; Jos 13:30; Jos 21:38; 1Ch 6:80, and lay within the territory of Gad, north of the torrent Jabbok. Mahanaim became in the time of the monarchy a place of mark. 2Sa 2:8; 2Sa 2:12; 2Sa 19:32. Abner fixed Ishbosheth’s residence there, and David took refuge in it when driven out of the western part of his kingdom by Absalom. 2Sa 17:24; 1Ki 2:8. Mahanaim was the seat of one of Solomon’s commissariat officers, 1Ki 4:14, and it is alluded to in his Son 6:13. Dr. Merrill locates Mahanaim in the Jordan valley, six miles north of the Jabbok, at a ruin called Suleikhat.
Fuente: People’s Dictionary of the Bible
Mahanaim
Mahana’im. A town on the east of the Jordan. The name signifies two hosts or two camps, and was given to it by Jacob, because he there met “the angels of God.” Gen 32:1-2. We next meet with it, in the records of the conquest. Jos 13:26; Jos 13:30. It was within the territory of Gad, Jos 21:38-39, and therefore, on the south side of the torrent Jabbok.
The town with its “suburbs” was allotted to the service of the Merarite Levites. Jos 21:39; 1Ch 6:80. Mahanaim had become in the time of the monarchy a place of mark. 2Sa 2:8; 2Sa 2:12. David took refuge there when driven out of the western part of his kingdom by Absalom. 2Sa 17:24; 1Ki 2:8.
Mahanaim was the seat of one of Solomon’s commissariat officers, 1Ki 4:14, and it is alluded to in the song which bears his name. Son 6:13. There is a place called Mahneh among the villages of the part of Jordan, through its exact position is not certain.
Fuente: Smith’s Bible Dictionary
MAHANAIM
a place east of the Jordan, where Jacob met the angels
Gen 32:2
Fuente: Thompson Chain-Reference Bible
Mahanaim
a city of the Levites, of the family of Merari, in the tribe of Gad, upon the brook Jabbok, Jos 21:38; Jos 13:26. The name Mahanaim signifies two hosts, or two fields. The patriarch gave it this name because in this place he had a vision of angels coming to meet him, Gen 32:2. Mahanaim was the seat of the kingdom of Ishbosheth, after the death of Saul, 2Sa 2:9; 2Sa 2:12. It was also to this place that David retired during the usurpation of Absalom, 2Sa 17:24; and this rebellious son was subdued, and suffered death, not far from this city.