2 Samuel 2:8

David’s Army Clashes with the Army of Saul

2:8 Now Abner son of Ner, the general in command of Saul’s army, had taken Saul’s son Ish-bosheth ¹  and had brought him to Mahanaim.

Genesis 32:2

32:2 When Jacob saw them, he exclaimed, ²  “This is the camp of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim. ³ 

Joshua 13:26

13:26 Their territory ran ⁴  from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir.

¹ sn The name Ish-bosheth means in Hebrew “man of shame.” It presupposes an earlier form such as Ish-baal (“man of the Lord”), with the word “baal” being used of Israel’s God. But because the Canaanite storm god was named “Baal,” that part of the name was later replaced with the word “shame.”

² tn Heb “and Jacob said when he saw them.”

³ sn The name Mahanaim apparently means “two camps.” Perhaps the two camps were those of God and of Jacob.

⁴ tn The words “Their territory ran” are not in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied for clarification.