1. 2 Samuel 2:8 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What do we know about Mahanaim?

2 Samuel 2:8 (ESV)

8 But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim,

Mahanaim was a Levitical city assigned to the Merarites (Joshua 21:38) east of Jordan in the land of Gad. It is associated with Jacob (Genesis 32:2).1 It served as the administrative seat for Gilead and was probably also a gateway to iron resources in the area.2 The name itself means two camps, highlighting the fact that God’s people (at the time) were divided into north (Israel) and south (Judah) because of Abner’s decision.3