Location
Overview
Mahanaim was a place in Gilead, east of the Jordan, that took its name from an encounter Jacob had on his return to Canaan.
The angels meet Jacob
"And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim" — "two camps" (Genesis 32:1–2). The vision came just before his fearful reunion with Esau.
A name of double encampment
The name reflects either Jacob's own company set beside the camp of God's angels, or the way he soon divided his household into two bands for safety (Genesis 32:7–8) — a place where the unseen armies of heaven met a frightened pilgrim.
A refuge in later days
Mahanaim became a known town: a Levitical city in Gilead, and later David's refuge during Absalom's revolt (2 Samuel 17:24).
Events Here
The angels of God meet Jacob; he names the place Mahanaim
Scripture References
14 versesGenesis1 verse
Genesis 32:2
And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim. Mahanaim: that is, Two hosts, or, camps
Joshua3 verses
Joshua 13:26
And from Heshbon unto Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir;
Joshua 13:30
And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, threescore cities:
Joshua 21:38
And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs,
2 Samuel6 verses
2 Samuel 2:8
But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; Saul's host: Heb. the host which was Saul's Ishbosheth: or, Eshbaal
2 Samuel 2:12
And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
2 Samuel 2:29
And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.
2 Samuel 17:24
Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
2 Samuel 17:27
And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that 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 19:32
Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.
1 Kings2 verses
1 Kings 2:8
And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword. grievous: Heb. strong
1 Kings 4:14
Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim: Mahanaim: or, to Mahanaim
1 Chronicles1 verse
1 Chronicles 6:80
And out of the tribe of Gad; Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her suburbs,
Song of Solomon1 verse
Song of Solomon 6:13
Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies. of: or, of Mahanaim
Archaeology & History
Mahanaim's exact location in the Gilead highlands of modern Jordan is uncertain, with several mounds near the Jabbok proposed. Its later role as a Levitical city and as David's wartime base shows it was a real and significant Transjordan settlement.
People who appear here
Frequently asked about Mahanaim
Where is Mahanaim today?
Today, Mahanaim corresponds to Transjordan, near the Jabbok (site uncertain).
What does the name Mahanaim mean?
The name Mahanaim means “Two camps / two hosts”.
What happened at Mahanaim in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Mahanaim include the angels of god meet jacob; he names the place mahanaim.
Where is Mahanaim first mentioned in the Bible?
Mahanaim is first mentioned in Genesis 32:2.
How often is Mahanaim mentioned in the Bible?
Mahanaim is mentioned in 14 verses across 6 books: Genesis, Joshua, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 1 Chronicles, Song of Solomon.
What does Mahanaim mean?
It means "two camps" or "two hosts." Jacob named it after seeing the angels of God meet him there, beside his own company.
What happened at Mahanaim?
On his way back to Canaan, Jacob was met by the angels of God and named the place Mahanaim. It later served as a Levitical city and as King David’s refuge during Absalom’s rebellion.