Mahanaim

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The spot on the east of the Jordan where Jacob met “the angels of God.” He exclaimed “This is God’s host,” and named the place Mahanaim, “two hosts or camps.” It is mentioned as on the border of both Gad and Manasseh, which connects it with the brook Jabbok. It fell to the lot of Gad, and a city was built there which was given to the Levites. It was where Ish-bosheth was made king, and where he was murdered. David fled to this city when Absalom revolted, and remained there till his son’s death (Gen. 32:22And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim. (Genesis 32:2); Josh. 13:26,3026And from Heshbon unto Ramath-mizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir; (Joshua 13:26)
30And 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 13:30); Josh. 21:3838And 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, (Joshua 21:38); 2 Sam. 2:8,12,298But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; (2 Samuel 2:8)
12And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. (2 Samuel 2:12)
29And 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 2:29); 2 Sam. 17:24,2724Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. (2 Samuel 17:24)
27And 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 Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, (2 Samuel 17:27); 2 Sam. 19:3232Now 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. (2 Samuel 19:32); 1 Kings 2:88And, 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. (1 Kings 2:8); 1 Kings 4:1414Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim: (1 Kings 4:14); 1 Chron. 6:8080And out of the tribe of Gad; Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her suburbs, (1 Chronicles 6:80)). Identified by some with ruins at Mahneh, 32° 23' N, 35° 42' E; but this is far from the Jabbok, and could scarcely have been in the lot of Gad. In the monument of Shishak at Karnak occurs the name of Ma-ha-n-ma, which is judged to refer to Mahanaim. It is mentioned with Beth-shean.