MAHANAIM (Min ; according to Gesenius pl. of 4:rin, camp ;' but more probably dual, double camp,' Ilapc/ApoNai ; in Josh. xih. 26, 30, ; and xxi. 38, Kaiztv ; Alex. Mavata, etc. ; Mahanaim, id est Castra ; and Manaim), a town east of the Jordan and on the north bank of the Jabboc. The origin of the name is given in Gen.
xxxii. 2 ; after the interview between Laban and Jacob at Galeed, Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when he saw them, he said, This is God's host (mann, Mahaneh), and he called the name of that place Mahanaim' perhaps because of the double camp or host—that of the angels and his own. It does not appear that there was any town on the spot at that period, though doubtless the heavenly vision would thence forth render the place holy, and cause men to settle around it. On the approach of the Israelites to Palestine, Mahanaim is again mentioned in the description of the territory of Gad (Josh. xiii. 26) ; it stood on the border between that tribe and Manasseh (cf. ver. 30), hut was allotted to the Levites out of Gad (xxi. 38). It seems to have become one of the most important cities east of the Jordan, for when the power of Saul's house was destroyed in western Palestine, Abner took Ish bosheth to Mahanaim, and made him king over Gilead, etc. (2 Sam. ii. 8). It is a singular fact that it was to this very place David fled on the rebellion of Absalom (2 Sam. xvii. 24, 27) ; and he was received with a hospitality which has always characterised nomad and semi-nomad tribes in the East (xix. 32). In Mahanaim David re mained during the battle, which resulted in the overthrow and death of Absalom ; and there he heard the tidings which affected so deeply his paternal heart. This city subsequently became one of the stations of Solomon's twelve purveyors (1 Kings iv. 14). The name does not again
appear in sacred history.
Josephus states that Mahanaim was a strong and beautiful city (Antiq. vii. 9. 8). It was apparently unknown to Eusebius and Jerome (Onomast., s. v. Manaim). Its exact position is nowhere described. It lay between Galeed and the river Jabboc, and apparently not far distant from the latter (Gen. xxxii. 2, 9, 22). The country between it and the Jordan was called Bithron (2 Sam. ii. 29) ; but we can form no correct idea from Scripture how far the city was from the Jordan. The site of Maha naim has not yet been identified. There is a small village called Mahneh, whose name suggests iden tity, but it is more than twenty miles north of the Jabboc, and this distance would scarcely seem to accord with the indications given in Genesis of Jacob's journey from Galeed to the Jabboc. The topographical notices, however, are here obscure, and no positive argument either for or against can be based upon them. It would seem strange that a holy place, and a strongly fortified city, such as Mahanaim, should have abruptly disappeared from history, and have left no trace behind except a poor village. May it not be, therefore, that the ruins of Gerasa occupy the site of Mahanaim ? The situation would suit the Scripture narrative. The ancient history of Gerasa is unknown. It is first mentioned by Josephus, but at that time and afterwards it was the capital of Perma—thus occu pying the place previously held by Mahanaim (see, however, Raumer, Pal 244 ; Ritter, Pal. and Syr., ii. 1039-40). The ruins of Gerasa are the most extensive and splendid east of the Jordan (GERAsA ; Handbook for S. and 311, seq.) J. L. P.