Mahanaim — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Settlement east of the Jordan in Gilead. Jacob met angels there and named the place “God’s camp.” He divided his household and possessions into two camps (Mahanaim means “two camps” in Hebrew) to keep from losing everything when he confronted Esau (Gn 32:1-11).

Show passage in OET: GEN 32:1–11

OET-RV GEN 32:1

32 Then Ya’akov (Jacob) continued on his way with his family and flocks, and some of God’s messengers met him

OET-RV GEN 32:2

2 and when he saw them, Ya’akov said, “This must be God’s army camp.” So he named that place ‘Mahanayim’ (which means ‘two camps’).

OET-RV GEN 32:3

3 Then Ya’akov (Jacob) sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esav (Esau) in the Se’ir region in the country of Edom,

OET-RV GEN 32:4

4 instructing them, “This is what you’ll say to my master, to Esav: ‘This is what your servant Ya’akov says, “I have been staying with Uncle Lavan (Laban) and have remained there until now.

OET-RV GEN 32:5

5 Now I have cattle and donkeys, flocks, and male and female slaves. And I’ve sent these messengers to speak with my master, so that I’ll find favour in your eyes.” ’ ”

OET-RV GEN 32:6

6 In due course the messengers returned to Ya’akov, saying, “We went to your brother Esav and now he’s coming to meet you along with his four hundred men!”

OET-RV GEN 32:7

7 This made Ya’akov very scared and distressed, so he divided the people who were with him and the flocks and the herds and the camels into two groups,

OET-RV GEN 32:8

8 reasoning, “If Esav comes and attacks one camp, then the camp that’s left can escape.”

OET-RV GEN 32:9

9 Then he prayed, “Yahweh, God of my grandfather Avraham, and God of my father Yitshak (Isaac), who said to me, ‘Return to your land and to your relatives, and I will cause things to prosper with you,’

OET-RV GEN 32:10

10 I’m unworthy of all the kindnesses and of all the faithfulness that you have shown me your slave, because I crossed this Yarden (Jordan) River with only my staff, but now I’ve become two camps.

OET-RV GEN 32:11

11 Please save me from my brother Esav, because I’m afraid that he’ll come and attack me and the mothers with the children.

OET-LV GEN 32:2

2  And_Yaˊₐqoⱱ he _went to_way _of_his and_they _met in_him/it the _messengers _of god.

OET-LV GEN 32:3

3  And_ Yaˊₐqoⱱ _he/it _said just_as he_saw _them is_the _camp _of god this and_he/it _called the _name _of the _place (the)_that Maḩₐnāyim.

OET-LV GEN 32:4

4  And_ Yaˊₐqoⱱ/(Jacob) _he _sent messengers before_him to ˊĒsāv his/its_brother towards_land of _Sēˊīr the _region _of ʼEdōm.

OET-LV GEN 32:5

5  And_he/it _commanded DOM_them to_say thus you(pl)_will _say to_master _of_my to_ˊĒsāv thus servant _of_your Yaˊₐqoⱱ he _says with Lāⱱān I _have _sojourned and_I _have _delayed until now.

OET-LV GEN 32:6

6  And_he/it _was to_me ox[en] and_donkey[s] flock[s] and_male_servants and_female _servant[s] and_I_have _sent to_announce to_master _of_my to_find favour in_eyes _of_your.

OET-LV GEN 32:7

7  And_ the_messengers _they _returned to Yaˊₐqoⱱ to_say we _went to your(ms)_brother/kindred to ˊĒsāv and_also he_is_coming to_meet_you and_four hundred(s) man with_him/it.

OET-LV GEN 32:8

8  And_ Yaˊₐqoⱱ _he _was _afraid exceedingly and_it _was _distress to_him/it and_he _divided DOM the_people which with_him/it and_DOM the_flock and_DOM the_herd and_the_camels into_two _of camps.

OET-LV GEN 32:9

9  And_he/it _said if ˊĒsāv he _will _come to the_camp the_one(f) and_he_will _attack _it and_it _was the_camp which_remains (into)_an_escaped _remnant.

OET-LV GEN 32:10

10  And_ Yaˊₐqoⱱ _he/it _said Oh _god _of my _father _of_my ʼAⱱrāhām and_the _god _of my _father _of_my Yiʦḩāq/(Isaac) Oh_YHWH who_said to_me return to_land _of_your and_to_kindred _of_your and_I _will _do _good with_you.

OET-LV GEN 32:11

11  I _am_too_insignificant from_all the _covenant_loyalti(es) and_for_all _of the_faithfulness which you _have _done with servant _of_your if/because with_staff _of_my I _passed _over DOM the_Yardēn/(Jordan) the_this and_now I _have _become (into)_two _of camps.

OET-LV GEN 32:12

12  Deliver_me please from_the _hand _of my_brother/kindred from_the _hand _of ˊĒsāv if/because am_fearing I DOM_him/it lest he _should _come and_he_will _attack _me mother with children.

Jump to OET GEN 32:1–11 section.

The city was located along the border between Manasseh and Gad’s tribes (Jos 13:26, 30 OET JOS 13:26 · OET JOS 13:30) and was given to the Levites for an inheritance (Jos 21:38; 1 Chr 6:80). After Saul’s defeat at Mt Gilboa, Ishbosheth, his son, fled to Mahanaim to set up a capital in exile. He managed to control much of Israel from there (2 Sm 2:8, 12, 29 OET SA2 2:8 · OET SA2 2:12 · OET SA2 2:29) until he was assassinated by Recab and Baanah (4:5-7). David fled to this city when Absalom rebelled against him. Here he received supplies from Barzillai and some Gileadites (17:24-27). At this city gate he wept as he received the news of Absalom’s death. Solomon chose the city for the capital of his seventh district and established Ahinadab as its governor (1 Kgs 4:14).

Show passage in OET: JOS 13:26; JOS 13:30

OET-RV JOS 13:26

26 then from Heshbon to Ramat-Hamitspeh and Betonim, and from Mahanayim to the Devir border.

OET-RV JOS 13:30

30 It went from Mahanayim, all the Bashan, all the kingdom of Og (the king of the Bashan), and all the towns of Yair, which are in the Bashan—sixty cities.

OET-LV JOS 13:26

26 And_from_Ḩeshbōn to Ramath (the)_Miʦpāh and_Bəţonīm and_from_Maḩₐnāyim to the _territory _of Lo _Debar.

OET-LV JOS 13:30

30 And_he/it _was territory _of_their from_Maḩₐnāyim all _of (the)_Bāshān all _of the _kingdom _of ˊŌg the _king _of (the)_Bāshān and_all the _villages _of Yāʼīr/(Jair) which are_in_Bāshān sixty citi[es].

Show passage in OET: JOS 21:38

OET-RV JOS 21:38

38 From Gad’s territory, they were allocated Ramot in the Gilead (which was assigned as a refuge city for anyone who accidentally kills someone), Mahanayim,

OET-LV JOS 21:38

38 And_from_the _tribe _of Gād DOM the _city _of (the)_refuge _of the _killer DOM Rāmot in_Gilˊād and_DOM lands _of_its _pasture and_DOM Maḩₐnāyim and_DOM lands _of_its _pasture.

Show passage in OET: CH1 6:80

OET-RV CH1 6:80

80 From the Gad tribe, they received these cities and their nearby pastureland: Ramot in the Gilead region, Mahanayim,

OET-LV CH1 6:65

65  And_from_the _tribe _of Gād DOM Rāʼmōt in_Gilˊād and_DOM lands _of_its _pasture and_DOM Maḩₐnāyim and_DOM lands _of_its _pasture.

Show passage in OET: SA2 2:8; SA2 2:12; SA2 2:29

OET-RV SA2 2:8

8 However, Avner (Ner’s son) who’d been Sha’ul’s (Saul’s) army commander had taken Sha’ul’s son Ish -Boshet across to Mahanayim

OET-RV SA2 2:12

12 One day Avner left Mahanayim with some of Ish -Boshet’s servants and went to Giveon,

OET-RV SA2 2:29

29 Then Avner and his men walked all that night through the Yarden (Jordan) river plain, then crossed the river and walked all morning until they got back to Mahanayim.

OET-LV SA2 2:8

8 And_ʼAⱱnēr the _son _of Nēr the_commander _of the_army which belonged_to_Shāʼūl he _had _taken DOM Ish- boshet the _son _of Shāʼūl and_he_had _brought _him _over Maḩₐnāyim.

OET-LV SA2 2:12

12 And_ ʼAⱱnēr the _son _of Nēr and_the _servants _of Ish- boshet the _son _of Shāʼūl/(Saul) _he/it _went _out from_Maḩₐnāyim to_Giⱱˊōn.

OET-LV SA2 2:29

29 And_ʼAⱱnēr and_men _of_his they _went in_ˊArāⱱāh all _of the_night (the)_that and_they _passed _over DOM the_Yardēn/(Jordan) and_they _went all _of (the)_Bitron and_they _came Maḩₐnāyim.

Show passage in OET: SA2 4:5–7

OET-RV SA2 4:5

5 One day, Ba’anah and Rekav (the sons of Rimon from Be’erot) walked to Ish -Boshet’s house, arriving in the middle of the day when he was taking a nap.

OET-RV SA2 4:6-7

6-7 They entered the middle of the house as if getting wheat, then entered the inner room where @Ish-Boshet was on the bed. They struck him in the body, killing him, then they cut off his head. Then Rekav and Ba’anah took the head and escaped, and walked all night through the Aravah.

OET-LV SA2 4:5

5 And_ the _sons _of Rimmōn the_Bəʼērōtite Rēkāⱱ and_Baˊₐnāh _they _went and_they _came about_the _heat _of the_day to the _house _of Ish- boshet and_he was_lying DOM the _lying _of (the)_noon(s).

OET-LV SA2 4:6

6 And_they(f) they _came to the _middle _of the _house taking _of (of)_wheat(s) and_they_struck _him into the_belly and_Rēkāⱱ and_Baˊₐnāh his/its_brother they _escaped.

OET-LV SA2 4:7

7 And_they _came the_house and_he was_lying on bed _of_his in_the _chamber _of his _lying _down _of_his and_they_struck _him and_they_killed _him and_they _removed DOM his/its_head and_they _took DOM his/its_head and_they _went the _way _of the _ˊArāⱱāh all _of the_night.

Show passage in OET: SA2 17:24–27

OET-RV SA2 17:24

24 Meanwhile, David arrived at Mahanayim, but Avshalom and all his men had crossed over the Yarden.

OET-RV SA2 17:25

25 As the replacement for Yoav (Joab) as army commander, Avshalom had appointed Amasa. (He was Yeter’s son, and his mother was Nahash’s daughter Avigayil who was the sister of Yoav’s mother Tseruyah.)

OET-RV SA2 17:26

26 Avshalom and his men camped in the Gilead region.

OET-RV SA2 17:27

27 While David was in Mahanayim, Shovi (Nahash’s son from Rabah), Makir (Amiyel’s son from Lo -Devar), and Barzilay (the Giladi from Roglim)

OET-LV SA2 17:24

24 And_Dāvid he _had _gone to_Maḩₐnāyim and_ʼAⱱīshālōm he _had _passed _over DOM the_Yardēn he and_all (the)_man _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) with_him/it.

OET-LV SA2 17:25

25 And_DOM ˊAmāsāʼ ʼAⱱīshālōm he _had _appointed in _place _of Yōʼāⱱ/(Joab) over the_army and_ˊAmāsāʼ was_a _son _of a _man and_his/its_name was_Yeter/(Jether) the_Israelite who he _had _gone into ʼAⱱīgayil the _daughter _of Nāḩāsh the _sister _of Tsərū^yāh/(Zeruiah) the _mother _of Yōʼāⱱ.

OET-LV SA2 17:26

26 And_ Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_ʼAⱱīshālōm _it _encamped the _land _of (the)_Gilˊād.

OET-LV SA2 17:27

27 And_he/it _was just_ Dāvid _as _came to_Maḩₐnāyim and_Shoⱱī the _son _of Nāḩāsh from_Rabāh of _the _people _of of _ˊAmmōn and_Mākīr the _son _of ˊAmmiy^ʼēl from_Lo- debar and_Barzillay the_Gilˊādite from_Roglīm.

Show passage in OET: KI1 4:14

OET-RV KI1 4:14

14 Ido’s son Ahinadav in Mahanayim.

OET-LV KI1 4:14

14 ʼAḩīnādāⱱ the _son _of ˊIddō (to)_Maḩₐnāyim.

Jump to OET JOS 13:26 section. · OET JOS 13:30 section.

Jump to OET JOS 21:38 section.

Jump to OET CH1 6:80 section.

Jump to OET SA2 2:8 section. · OET SA2 2:12 section. · OET SA2 2:29 section.

Jump to OET SA2 4:5–7 section.

Jump to OET SA2 17:24–27 section.

Jump to OET KI1 4:14 section.

Biblical references point to a location somewhere along the Jabbok River in central Gilead. Outside of this, the city could have been located virtually anywhere. It was earlier identified with Khirbet al-Makhna, two miles (3.2 kilometers) north of Aijalon. Most recent attention, however, has moved to the twin hills of Tulul al-Dhahab on the Jabbok. Aharoni suggests that the western mound of Tulul al-Dhahab is Mahanaim and the eastern mound is Penuel.