Places in the Bible Today:

Mahanaim

Data

Translated NameMahanaim
Typesettlement
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

6 Possible Identifications

  1. Tell edh Dhahab el Gharbi (modern): 65% confidence
    1. panorama of the Jabbok River and Tell edh Dhahab el GharbiTell edh Dhahab el Gharbi

  2. Tell Hejaj (modern): less than 10% confidence
    1. satellite view of the region around Tell HejajTell Hejaj

  3. Tell edh Dhahab esh Sherqiyeh (modern): less than 10% confidence
    1. panorama of Tell edh Dhahab esh SherqiyehTell edh Dhahab esh Sherqiyeh

  4. Tell er Reheil (modern): less than 10% confidence
    1. satellite view of the region around Tell er ReheilTell er Reheil

  5. Sleikhat (modern): less than 10% confidence
    1. satellite view of the region around SleikhatSleikhat

  6. Khirbet Mehna (modern): less than 10% confidence
    1. satellite view of the region around Khirbet MehnaKhirbet Mehna

Verses (16)

Gen-Deut (1)
Gen 32:2
Josh-Ruth (3)
Josh 13:26, 13:30, 21:38
1Sam-Esth (11)
2Sam 2:8, 2:10, 2:12, 2:29, 17:24, 17:27, 18:23, 19:32
1Kgs 2:8, 4:14
1Chr 6:80
Job-Mal (1)
Song 6:13

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
Biblemapper.com645
Logos FactbookMahanaim
OpenBible.info (2007)Mahanaim
OpenBible.infoae5bfe9 (Mahanaim)
TIPNRMahanaim@Gen.32.2
WikidataQ2733096

Sources

  1. Aharoni, Land of the Bible (1979): page 439
  2. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992): Mahanaim (place)
  3. Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land (1990): Mahanaim
  4. Baly, Atlas of the Biblical World (1971): Mahanaim
  5. Baly, The Geography of the Bible (1974): page 223
  6. Carta Bible Atlas, 5th Edition (2011)
  7. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000): Mahanaim
  8. ESV Bible Atlas (2010)
  9. Expositor’s Bible Commentary (1984): Josh 13:26; 2Sam 2:8-11
  10. Gordon, I and II Samuel (1986): 2Sam 2:8
  11. Grollenberg, Atlas of the Bible (1957): Mahanaim
  12. Hamilton, Genesis (1995): 32:3 note 8
  13. Hammond Atlas of the Bible Lands (2007): Mahanaim
  14. HarperCollins Concise Atlas of the Bible (1991)
  15. Hess, Joshua (1996): table 9
  16. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003)
  17. Holman Illustrated Guide to Bible Geography (2020): page 264
  18. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1979): Mahanaim
  19. IVP Old Testament Bible Background Commentary (2000): 2Sam 2:8; Josh 13:24-29
  20. Lexham Bible Dictionary (2016): Mahanaim
  21. Matthews, Genesis (1996, 2005): 32:2
  22. New Bible Dictionary (1996): Mahanaim
  23. New Interpreter’s Bible Dictionary (2009)
  24. New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (1988)
  25. Oxford Bible Atlas, Fourth Edition (2007)
  26. Reader’s Digest Atlas of the Bible (1981): Mahanaim
  27. Schlegel, Satellite Bible Atlas (2016): Mahanaim
  28. Tyndale Bible Dictionary (2001): Mahanaim
  29. Tübingen Bible Atlas (2001): Mahanayim
  30. Wenham, Genesis (1987, 1994): 32:2-3
  31. Westminster Historical Atlas to the Bible (1956): Mahanaim
  32. Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia (1975): Mahanaim
  33. Zondervan Atlas of the Bible (2010)
  34. Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (2010)
  35. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (2009): Gen 32:2; 2Sam 2:8
  36. Zondervan Pictorial Bible Atlas (1972): page 94

Confidence Trends over Time

This chart indicates how confidence in the identifications is changing over time. Each dot (connected by a dotted line) reflects the confidence of an identification over the preceding ten years (e.g., the 2009 dot reflects scholarship from 2000 to 2009), and the corresponding solid line reflects a best-fit line for the identification. Confidences that cluster near or below 0% indicate low confidence. Because of the small dataset, it's best to use this chart for general trends; if one identification is trending much higher than the others (in this case, Tell edh Dhahab el Gharbi), then you can probably have higher confidence in the identification. This chart only reflects the sources I consulted (listed above), not an exhaustive review of the literature.

Thumbnail Image Credits

E. Rehfeld, Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2019, יעקב

About

This page attempts to identify all the possible locations where this biblical place could be. The confidence levels add up to less than 100%, indicating that the modern location is uncertain. It's best to think about the confidences in relative rather than absolute terms. Often they reflect different schools of thought, each confident in their identifications.