Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

MAHANAIM

(Heb. maḥănayim)

The place where Jacob rested on his return to Canaan (Gen. 32:2[MT 3]). Mahanaim (“two camps”) later became a levitical city (Josh. 21:38; 1 Chr. 6:80) in the territory of Gad (Josh. 13:26) on the border of Manasseh (13:30). It was briefly the capital of the Saulide dynasty under Ish-bosheth (2 Sam. 2:8, 12, 29) and was later used by David as a base of operations during the coup attempt by Absalom (17:24, 27; 19:32; 1 Kgs. 2:7-8). It was the seat of Solomon’s 7th district (1 Kgs. 4:14) and was destroyed by Pharaoh Shishak (ANET, 243) in 925 b.c.

The exact location of Mahanaim is unknown. Tell edh-Dhahab el-Gharbī (214177) on the north bank of the Jabbok River (Wadi Zerqa) is currently the best candidate.

Bibliography. R. A. Coughenour, “A Search for Maḥanaim,” BASOR 273 (1989): 57-66.

Paul J. Ray, Jr.






Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)

Info Language Arrow Return to Top
Prayer Tents is a Christian mission organization that serves Christians around the world and their local bodies to make disciples ("evangelize") more effectively in their communities. Prayer Tents provides resources to enable Christians to form discipleship-focused small groups and make their gatherings known so that other "interested" people may participate and experience Christ in their midst. Our Vision is to make disciples in all nations through the local churches so that anyone seeking God can come to know Him through relationships with other Christians near them.

© Prayer Tents 2024.
Prayer Tents Facebook icon Prayer Tents Twitter icon Prayer Tents Youtube icon Prayer Tents Linkedin icon