Genesis 32:2

This is God's host The Heb. word for "host" (maḥaneh) is usually, and ought here to be, rendered "camp." The angels are regarded as the warriors of Jehovah; cf. the narrative in Joshua 5:13-15, and 1 Kings 22:19; Psalms 103:21; Psalms 148:2.

Mahanaim That is, Two hosts, or, companies. The termination -aimdenotes the dual. Possibly Jacob here refers to the two "companies," or "encampments," one of the angels, and the other of his own followers. The LXX renders παρεμβολαί = "camps"; Lat. Mahanaim, id est, Castra, without reference to the dual number. For another derivation of the name, see on Genesis 32:7; Genesis 32:10.

Mahanaim was in later times a place of considerable importance. During Absalom's rebellion it was the residence and head-quarters of David; see 2Sa 17:24; 2 Samuel 17:27. Cf. 2 Samuel 2:8; 2 Samuel 2:12; 2 Samuel 2:29; 1 Kings 2:8. The site is uncertain: from Genesis 32:11 it would appear to be not far from the banks of the Jordan, and from Genesis 32:22 to lie north of the Jabbok (modern Zerka). In Joshua 13:26-30, it appears to lie on the confines of Gad and Manasseh.