Atomic Bible

A place east of the Jordan; David's refuge

Mahanaim

Named in 13 verses across 5 books, first in Genesis 32:2.

מַחֲנַיִםMahanaim

The name means “tents; two fields; two armies.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

About Mahanaim Written by AI

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).

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

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.

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

32.215, 35.633 See it on a map

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names it

  1. Genesis 32:2

    When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God.” So he named that place Mahanaim.

  2. Joshua 13:26

    the territory from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir;

  3. Joshua 13:30

    The territory from Mahanaim through all Bashan—all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, including all the towns of Jair that are in Bashan, sixty cities;

  4. Joshua 21:38

    And from the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Mahanaim,

  5. 2 Samuel 2:8

    Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, moved him to Mahanaim,

  6. 2 Samuel 2:12

    One day Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

  7. 2 Samuel 2:29

    And all that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, marched all morning, and arrived at Mahanaim.

  8. 2 Samuel 17:24

    Then David went to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel.

  9. 2 Samuel 17:27

    When David came to Mahanaim, he was met by Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim.

  10. 2 Samuel 19:32

    Barzillai was quite old, eighty years of age, and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the king while he stayed in Mahanaim.

  11. 1 Kings 2:8

    Keep an eye on Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim who is with you. He called down bitter curses against me on the day I went to Mahanaim, but when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD: ‘I will never put you to the sword.’

  12. 1 Kings 4:14

    Ahinadab son of Iddo in Mahanaim;

  13. 1 Chronicles 6:80

    And from the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim,

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.