Bible Dictionaries
Mahanaim

Holman Bible Dictionary

(may huh nay ihm) Place name meaning, “two camps.” City somewhere in the hill country of Gilead on the tribal borders of Gad and eastern Manasseh (Joshua 13:26 ,Joshua 13:26,13:30 ). It was a Levitical city (Joshua 21:38 ). It served as a refuge twice: for Ishbosheth after Saul's death (2 Samuel 2:8-9 ), and for David when Absalom usurped the throne (2 Samuel 17:24-27 ). During Solomon's administration, the city served as a district capital (1 Kings 4:14 ). German archaeologists locate it at tell Heggog, half a mile south of Penuel, while Israelis point to tell edh-Dhabab el Gharbi.