Mahanaim
Encyclopedia
Mahanaim is a place near Jabbok, beyond the Jordan River, mentioned a number of times by the Bible
. The precise location of Mahanaim is very uncertain, the Biblical data being inconclusive. Although two possible sites have been identified, the one most widely accepted lies about ten miles east of Jordan River. The other is located nine miles farther upstream on the Jabbok River itself. Mahanaim was in the same general area as Jabesh-gilead
.
The location is first mentioned by the Bible as the place where Jacob
, returning from Padan-aram to southern Canaan
, had a vision of angel
s (Genesis 32:2). Jacob's realization that the place was "God's camp", led him to name the place Mahanaim - Two Camps, or Two Companies, to memorialize the occasion of his own company sharing the place with God's. Later in the story, Jacob is moved by fear at the approach of his brother (whom he has reason to fear) and as a result divided his retinue into two hosts (two companies), hence the town built on the site took two hosts as its name. This is regarded as a clear case of folk etymology for the place name by some , and although the form of the name appears to be dual (hence two ...), some at the present day prefer to regard the termination in this case as a corruption of a shorter ending. According to the Biblical narrative it became a Levitical city (Joshua
13:26, 13:30, 21:38; cf. 1 Chronicles 6:80).
The dance of Mahanaim is mentioned in Song of Solomon
6:13.
According to the Biblical narrative it had been the southern boundary of Bashan
until the conquest of Canaan
by the Israelites (Josh. 13:26, 30), and after the conquest, it became the boundary between Machir
(the eastern half-tribe of Manasseh
) and Gilead
(later known as Gad
). However, according to some, the conquest never happened, and the Israelites were simply Canaanites who had undergone a smooth cultural evolution; here the implication being that Machir was simply the newer name of Bashan, and the reason for the border between Machir and Gilead being placed there being that that was where it had always been.
In the Biblical narrative, around the start of the United Monarchy
, the city was a stronghold that had been adapted to serve as a sanctuary for important fugitives (2 Samuel 18:2); the narrative states that after King Saul
died, Abner
, the commander of Saul’s army, established Saul’s son, Ish-bosheth
, in Mahanaim as king of Israel (2 Sam 2:8). Mahanaim is also the location to which David is described as fleeing, when his son Absalom
rebelled; having arrived at Mahanaim, David is described as having been entertained by a man named Barzillai, and having mustered forces there to combat Absalom
's army. It is also the location that the Bible states was the place where David was informed about his victory over Absalom, and the death of his son.
According to Maspero
("The Struggle of the Nations," p. 773), Mahanaim was among the cities plundered by Shishak
during his invasion (I Kings 14:25) of Israelitish territory. There is no subsequent reference to the city in the annals, and it is not improbable that a vigorous resistance to Shishak or to some other invader brought about its utter demolition.
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
. The precise location of Mahanaim is very uncertain, the Biblical data being inconclusive. Although two possible sites have been identified, the one most widely accepted lies about ten miles east of Jordan River. The other is located nine miles farther upstream on the Jabbok River itself. Mahanaim was in the same general area as Jabesh-gilead
Jabesh-Gilead
Jabesh-Gilead is an ancient town referred to in four books of the Old Testament. Some biblical scholars believe it to have been located east of the Jordan River, in the vicinity of Wadi Yabes....
.
The location is first mentioned by the Bible as the place where Jacob
Jacob
Jacob "heel" or "leg-puller"), also later known as Israel , as described in the Hebrew Bible, the Talmud, the New Testament and the Qur'an was the third patriarch of the Hebrew people with whom God made a covenant, and ancestor of the tribes of Israel, which were named after his descendants.In the...
, returning from Padan-aram to southern Canaan
Canaan
Canaan is a historical region roughly corresponding to modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and the western parts of Jordan...
, had a vision of angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
s (Genesis 32:2). Jacob's realization that the place was "God's camp", led him to name the place Mahanaim - Two Camps, or Two Companies, to memorialize the occasion of his own company sharing the place with God's. Later in the story, Jacob is moved by fear at the approach of his brother (whom he has reason to fear) and as a result divided his retinue into two hosts (two companies), hence the town built on the site took two hosts as its name. This is regarded as a clear case of folk etymology for the place name by some , and although the form of the name appears to be dual (hence two ...), some at the present day prefer to regard the termination in this case as a corruption of a shorter ending. According to the Biblical narrative it became a Levitical city (Joshua
Joshua
Joshua , is a minor figure in the Torah, being one of the spies for Israel and in few passages as Moses's assistant. He turns to be the central character in the Hebrew Bible's Book of Joshua...
13:26, 13:30, 21:38; cf. 1 Chronicles 6:80).
The dance of Mahanaim is mentioned in Song of Solomon
Song of Solomon
The Song of Songs of Solomon, commonly referred to as Song of Songs or Song of Solomon, is a book of the Hebrew Bible—one of the megillot —found in the last section of the Tanakh, known as the Ketuvim...
6:13.
According to the Biblical narrative it had been the southern boundary of Bashan
Bashan
Bashan or Basan is a biblical place first mentioned in , where it is said that Chedorlaomer and his confederates "smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth", where Og the king of Bashan had his residence. At the time of Israel's entrance into the Promised Land, Og came out against them, but was utterly routed...
until the conquest of Canaan
Canaan
Canaan is a historical region roughly corresponding to modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and the western parts of Jordan...
by the Israelites (Josh. 13:26, 30), and after the conquest, it became the boundary between Machir
Machir
Machir/Makir - meaning bartered - was the name of two figures in the Bible.1. Machir, the son of Manasseh, and father of Gilead....
(the eastern half-tribe of Manasseh
Tribe of Manasseh
According to the Hebrew Bible, the Tribe of Manasseh was one of the Tribes of Israel. Together with the Tribe of Ephraim, Manasseh also formed the House of Joseph....
) and Gilead
Gilead
In the Bible "Gilead" means hill of testimony or mound of witness, , a mountainous region east of the Jordan River, situated in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. It is also referred to by the Aramaic name Yegar-Sahadutha, which carries the same meaning as the Hebrew . From its mountainous character...
(later known as Gad
Tribe of Gad
According to the Hebrew Bible, the Tribe of Gad was one of the Tribes of Israel.From after the conquest of the land by Joshua until the formation of the first Kingdom of Israel in c. 1050 BC, the Tribe of Gad was a part of a loose confederation of Israelite tribes. No central government existed,...
). However, according to some, the conquest never happened, and the Israelites were simply Canaanites who had undergone a smooth cultural evolution; here the implication being that Machir was simply the newer name of Bashan, and the reason for the border between Machir and Gilead being placed there being that that was where it had always been.
In the Biblical narrative, around the start of the United Monarchy
United Monarchy
According to Biblical tradition, the united Kingdom of Israel was a kingdom that existed in the Land of Israel, a period referred to by scholars as the United Monarchy. Biblical historians date the kingdom from c. 1020 BCE to c...
, the city was a stronghold that had been adapted to serve as a sanctuary for important fugitives (2 Samuel 18:2); the narrative states that after King Saul
Saul the King
According to the Bible, Saul was the first king of the united Kingdom of Israel. He was anointed by the prophet Samuel and reigned from Gibeah. He commited suicide to avoid arrest in the battle against the Philistines at Mount Gilboa, during which three of his sons were also killed...
died, Abner
Abner
In the Book of Samuel, Abner , is first cousin to Saul and commander-in-chief of his army...
, the commander of Saul’s army, established Saul’s son, Ish-bosheth
Ish-bosheth
According to the Hebrew Bible, Ish-bosheth also called Eshbaal , Ashbaal or Ishbaal, was one of the four sons of King Saul, born c. 1047 BC...
, in Mahanaim as king of Israel (2 Sam 2:8). Mahanaim is also the location to which David is described as fleeing, when his son Absalom
Absalom
According to the Bible, Absalom or Avshalom was the third son of David, King of Israel with Maachah, daughter of Talmai, King of Geshur. describes him as the most handsome man in the kingdom...
rebelled; having arrived at Mahanaim, David is described as having been entertained by a man named Barzillai, and having mustered forces there to combat Absalom
Absalom
According to the Bible, Absalom or Avshalom was the third son of David, King of Israel with Maachah, daughter of Talmai, King of Geshur. describes him as the most handsome man in the kingdom...
's army. It is also the location that the Bible states was the place where David was informed about his victory over Absalom, and the death of his son.
According to Maspero
Maspero
People with the name Maspero include:*Gaston Maspero , French Egyptologist, father of Henri*Henri Maspero , French sinologist, son of Gaston, father of François*François Maspero , French author and journalist, son of Henri...
("The Struggle of the Nations," p. 773), Mahanaim was among the cities plundered by Shishak
Shishak
Shishak or Susac or Shishaq is the biblical Hebrew form of the first ancient Egyptian name of a pharaoh mentioned in the Bible.-Shishak's Reign:...
during his invasion (I Kings 14:25) of Israelitish territory. There is no subsequent reference to the city in the annals, and it is not improbable that a vigorous resistance to Shishak or to some other invader brought about its utter demolition.