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| mjꜣḥꜣnjmꜥ[1][2] inhieroglyphs | ||||||
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| Era:3rd Intermediate Period (1069–664 BC) | ||||||
Mahanaim (Hebrew:מַחֲנַיִםMaḥănayīm, "camps") is a place mentioned a number of times by theBible said to be nearJabbok, in the same general area asJabesh-gilead, beyond theJordan River. Although two possible sites have been identified, the precise location of Mahanaim is uncertain. Tell edh-Dhahab el-Gharbi, the western one of the twinTulul adh-Dhahabtells, is one proposed identification.
In the Biblical narrative, the first mentioned of Mahanaim occurs in theBook of Genesis as the place whereJacob, returning fromPadan-aram to southernCanaan, had a vision ofangels (Genesis 32:2). Believing it to be "God's camp", Jacob names the place Mahanaim (Hebrew for "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 brotherEsau (whom he has reason to fear) and as a result divided his retinue intotwo hosts (two companies), hence the town built on the site tooktwo hosts as its name.
According to theBook of Joshua and1 Chronicles it became aLevitical city (Joshua 13:26–30,Joshua 21:38; cf.1 Chronicles 6:80), having been located at the southern boundary ofBashan until the conquest ofCanaan by theIsraelites (Joshua 13:26–30).
In the Biblical narrative, around the start of theUnited 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 KingSaul died,Abner, the commander of Saul’s army, established Saul’s son,Ish-bosheth, in Mahanaim as king of Israel (2 Samuel 2:8).
Mahanaim is the location to which David is described as fleeing while at war with his sonAbsalom; having arrived at Mahanaim (2 Samuel 17:24), David is described as having sheltered with a man namedBarzillai, and having mustered forces there to combatAbsalom'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.
The "dance of Mahanaim" is mentioned inSong of Songs 6:13.
According toGaston Maspero (The Struggle of the Nations, p. 773), Mahanaim was among the cities plundered byShishak during his invasion (1 Kings 14:25) of Israelitish territory, alsoChampollion,Rosellini andBudge share his view identifyingMa'hanema' with Mahanaim.[1][2] 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.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906)."Mahanaim".The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.
