Lexical Definition

‎מַחֲנַיִם‎ Machănayim (makh-an-ah'-yim) Mahanaim ^N:N--L
dual of ‎מַחֲנֶה‎; double camp

Mahanaim.

• § Mahanaim = "two camps"
• Machanajim, a place in Palestine

1) a place east of the Jordan, named from Jacob's encounter with angels
2) a Levitical city in Gad

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎מַחֲנַיִם‎ proper name, of a location (two camps) — east of Jordan; name from Jacob's meeting angels according to Gen 32:3* (J), place on border of Gad Josh 13:26, of Manasseh vJosh 13:30 (P); Levitical city in Gad Josh 21:36 (P) = 1Chr 6:65* named also 2Sam 2:8 (‎מַחֲנָ֑יִם‎), v2Sam 2:12 v2Sam 2:29 (‎נָ֑יִם‎-), 2Sam 19:33*; 1Kgs 2:8 (‎נָ֑ים‎-); ‎מַחֲנָ֑יְמָה‎ 2Sam 17:24; 2Sam 17:27; 1Kgs 4:14 site unknown, see Di^Gn; ‎כִּמְחֹלַת הַמַּחֲנָ֑יִם‎ Song 7:1* is put here by Ew Hi Öttli and others: as at a (the) dance of Mahanaim; dance of a double choir Gi Stickel RV.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Mahanaim • A place east of the Jordan; David's refuge

Mahanaim, a place east of the Jordan River where Jacob met angels and David found refuge during Absalom's rebellion (Genesis 32:2; 2 Samuel 17:24, 27).

• A location first mentioned at Gen.32.2;
• only referred to as Mahanaim מַחֲנַיִם.
  

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; 1 Chronicles 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 (2 Samuel 17:24, 27). Ishbosheth, Saul's son, was also based in Mahanaim when he ruled over Israel (2 Samuel 2:8, 12, 29). Later, during Solomon's reign, Mahanaim was the center of one of the twelve districts governed by Solomon's officers (1 Kings 4:14).

All entries for Mahanaim: מַחֲנַיִם