The BibleGospel Companion

Mahanaim

מַחֲנַיִם · ma.cha.na.yim · H4266“tents; two fields; two armies” Hitchcock's 186913 mentions in 5 books, most in 2 Samuel (6)
Illustration — not a likeness; generated for Gospel Companion in the app's painting style — Mahanaim
Illustration — not a likeness; generated for Gospel Companion in the app's painting style

Where it is

JabbokZaphonZaphonBrook of the WillowsBrook of the WillowsAdamAdamAbel-meholahAbel-meholahJabeshJabeshMahanaimabout 48 km across

32.21° N, 35.63° E

Coordinates and map: OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding · CC BY 4.0 · drawn without map tiles

Mentioned most in

2 Samuel · 6Joshua · 31 Kings · 2Genesis · 11 Chronicles · 1
Counted from 13 references · STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

About this place

Mahanaim was a city located east of the Jordan River, in the territory allocated to the tribe of Gad (Joshua 13:26, 30). It was designated as a Levitical city for the Merarites (Joshua 21:38; 1Ch.6.80). Mahanaim is first mentioned in Genesis 32:2, where Israel (or 'Jacob') encountered angels on his way back to Canaan, and he named the place Mahanaim, meaning "two camps." During the reign of King David, Mahanaim served as a refuge for David when he fled from his son Absalom's rebellion (2Sa.17.24, 27). Ishbosheth, Saul's son, was also based in Mahanaim when he ruled over Israel (2Sa.2.8, 12, 29). Later, during Solomon's reign, Mahanaim was the center of one of the twelve districts governed by Solomon's officers (1Ki.4.14).

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

13 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)
GenesisChapter 32: 1 mention1 mention
Genesis 32:2When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s army.” He called the name of that place Mahanaim.
JoshuaChapter 13: 2 mentionsChapter 21: 1 mention3 mentions
Joshua 13:26and from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir;Joshua 13:30Their border was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the villages of Jair, which are in Bashan, sixty cities.Joshua 21:38Out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, and Mahanaim with its pasture lands,
2 SamuelChapter 2: 3 mentionsChapter 17: 2 mentionsChapter 19: 1 mention6 mentions
2 Samuel 2:8Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s army, had taken Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.2 Samuel 2:12Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.2 Samuel 2:29Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah; and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and came to Mahanaim.2 Samuel 17:24Then David came to Mahanaim. Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.2 Samuel 17:27When David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,2 Samuel 19:32Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even eighty years old. He had provided the king with sustenance while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man.
1 KingsChapter 2: 1 mentionChapter 4: 1 mention2 mentions
1 Kings 2:8“Behold, there is with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at the…1 Kings 4:14Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim;
1 ChroniclesChapter 6: 1 mention1 mention
1 Chronicles 6:80and out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, Mahanaim with its pasture lands,

What the dictionary says

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…

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
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Sources