And when Jacob saw them, he said, This [is] God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
2. This is God’s host ] The Heb. word for “host” ( maaneh) is usually, and ought here to be, rendered “camp.” The angels are regarded as the warriors of Jehovah; cf. the narrative in Jos 5:13-15, and 1Ki 22:19; Psa 103:21; Psa 148:2.
Mahanaim ] That is, Two hosts, or, companies. The termination -aim denotes 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 = “camps”; Lat. Mahanaim, id est, Castra, without reference to the dual number. For another derivation of the name, see on Gen 32:7 ; Gen 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 ; 2Sa 17:27. Cf. 2Sa 2:8; 2Sa 2:12; 2Sa 2:29; 1Ki 2:8. The site is uncertain: from Gen 32:11 it would appear to be not far from the banks of the Jordan, and from Gen 32:22 to lie north of the Jabbok (modern Zerka). In Jos 13:26-30, it appears to lie on the confines of Gad and Manasseh.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 2. Mahanaim.] The two hosts, if read by the points, the angels forming one, and Jacob and his company forming another; or simply hosts or camps in the plural. There was a city built afterwards here, and inhabited by the priests of God, Jos 21:38. For what purpose the angels of God met Jacob, does not appear from the text; probably it was intended to show him that he and his company were under the care of an especial providence, and consequently to confirm his trust and confidence in God.
The doctrine of the ministration of angels has been much abused, not only among the heathens, but also among Jews and Christians, and perhaps most among the latter. Angels with feigned names, titles, and influences, have been and still are invoked and worshipped by a certain class of men; because they have found that God has been pleased to employ them to minister to mankind; and hence they have made supplications to them to extend their protection, to shield, defend, instruct, c. This is perfectly absurd.
1. They are God’s instruments, not self-determining agents.
2. They can only do what they are appointed to perform, for there is no evidence that they have any discretionary power.
3. God helps man by ten thousand means and instruments some intellectual, as angels; some rational, as men; some irrational, as brutes; and some merely material, as the sun, wind, rain, food, raiment, and the various productions of the earth. He therefore helps by whom he will help, and to him alone belongs all the glory; for should he be determined to destroy, all these instruments collectively could not save. Instead therefore of worshipping them, we should take their own advice: See thou do it not – Worship God.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Gods host; so the angels are justly called for their great number, Dan 7:10; Luk 2:13, excellent order, mighty power, and for their use and service to God, and to his church, for whose protection they are sent. See 2Ki 6:17; Psa 34:7.
Mahanaim, i.e. two hosts; so called, either because the angels divided themselves into two companies, and placed themselves some before, others behind him, or some on each side of him, for his greater comfort and security; or because the angels made one host, and his family another.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. Mahanaim“two hosts,”or “camps.” The place was situated between mount Gilead andthe Jabbok, near the banks of that brook.
Ge32:3-32. MISSION TOESAU.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And when Jacob saw them,…. These appeared in a visible form, most probably human, and in the habit, and with the accoutrements of soldiers, and therefore afterwards called an host or army. Aben Ezra thinks that Jacob alone saw them, as Elisha first saw the host of angels before the young man did that was with him, 2Ki 6:17:
he said, this [is] God’s host: or army, hence he is often called the Lord of hosts; angels have this name from their number, order, strength, and military exploits they perform:
and he called the name of the place Mahanaim; which signifies two hosts or armies; either his own family and company making one, and the angels another, as Aben Ezra observes; or they were the angels, who very probably appeared in two companies, or as two armies, and one went on one side of Jacob and his family, and the other on the other side; or the one went before him, and the other behind him; the latter to secure him from any insult of Laban, should he pursue after him, and distress him in the rear, and the former to protect him from Esau, near whose country Jacob now was, and of whom he was in some fear and danger; thus seasonably did God appear for him. The Jewish writers t say, the host of God is 60,000, and that the Shechinah, or divine Majesty, never dwells among less, and that Mahanaim, or two hosts, are 120,000; there was afterwards a city of this name near this place, which very likely was so called in memory of this appearance, Jos 21:38; and there seems to be an allusion to it in the account of the church, So 6:13; it was in the land of Gilead, and tribe of Gad, forty four miles from Jerusalem to the southeast u.
t In Bereshit Rabba, sect. 75. fol. 66. 1. u Bunting’s Travels, p. 74.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2) Mahanaim.That is, the two camps, his own and that of the angels; or, possibly, two camps of angels, one on either side of him. Mahanaim was in the tribe of Gad, and became an important town. (See 2Sa. 2:8; 2Sa. 17:24; 1Ki. 4:14.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. This is God’s host Or, God’s band . He at once recognises them as the same class of heavenly powers that had appeared to him in the vision of Beth-el . He has around him his own company, no small host; and behold, he is also encompassed by another camp, God’s company of holy watchers, set to guard and guide him in his way .
Mahanaim Two camps; his own and that of the angels . Comp . Psa 34:7. The great lesson of this event was that of the immanent providence of God . His angels ever guard the ways of his chosen . The site of Mahanaim is probably the modern Maneh, on the north of mount Ajlun . It was on the border of Gad and Manasseh, (Jos 13:26; Jos 13:30,) and was a city of the Levites. Jos 21:38. Here Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, reigned two years .
2Sa 2:8-12.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Mahanaim, signifies two bands, or camps. See Son 6:13 ; Heb 1:14 ; Psa 34:7 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 32:2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This [is] God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
Ver. 2. This is God’s host.] So called, for their number, order, obedience, strength, &c. God hath a complete host of horse and foot. Angels, and heavenly bodies, are his horse, as it were; “horses and chariots of fire”; 2Ki 6:17 yea, both horse and foot: for there are whole “legions” of them. Mat 26:53 Now a legion is judged to be six thousand foot, and seven hundred horse. Daniel tells us, there be millions of angels, Dan 7:10 yea, “an innumerable company,” saith the author to the Hebrews. Heb 12:22 The Greek poet could say, There were thirty thousands of them here upon earth, keepers of mortal men, and observers of their works: a some think they are meant in the parable, by the ninety and nine sheep; as if they were ninety and nine times as many as mankind in number. All these, how many soever, pitch camp round about the godly, Psa 34:7 make a lane for them, as they did here for Jacob at Mahanaim (which signifies a double camp), fight in battle array against their enemies, Dan 10:20 and convey them at death, as they did Lazarus, through their enemies’ country, the air, into Abraham’s bosom. Luk 16:22 So that all God’s children may call death, as Jacob did this place, Mahanaim; because there the angels meet them. And as the palsied man, in the gospel, was let down with his bed through the tiling before Jesus, Luk 5:19 so is every good soul taken up in a heavenly couch (or coach, rather) through the roof of his house, and carried into Christ’s presence, by the blessed angels.
a T D , . – Hesiod.
host = camp. Hebrew. mahaneh as in verses: Gen 32:8, Gen 32:21. Compare Deu 33:2. Jos 5:14, Jos 5:15. Psa 27:3; Psa 78:28; Psa 106:16.
Mahanaim = two camps.
Mahanaim
i.e. two hosts, or bands — the visible band, Jacob and his servants; the invisible band, God’s angels. Cf. 2Ki 6:13-17.
God’s: Jos 5:14, 2Ki 6:17, Psa 34:7, Psa 103:21, Psa 148:2, Dan 10:20, Luk 2:13
the name: Jos 21:38, 2Sa 2:8, 2Sa 2:12, 2Sa 17:24, 2Sa 17:26, 2Sa 17:27, 1Ki 2:8, 1Ki 4:14
Mahanaim: i.e. two hosts, or camps, Son 6:13, Mahanaim was situated between Gilead and the river Jabbok, near the present Djezan.
Reciprocal: Gen 28:12 – ladder Jos 13:26 – Mahanaim 1Ch 6:80 – Mahanaim 1Ch 12:22 – like the host of God 2Ch 18:18 – all the host Neh 9:6 – the host Zec 9:8 – I will Mat 18:10 – their Heb 1:14 – sent
Gen 32:2. This is Gods host Or army; so the angels are justly called, because of their great number, their excellent order, their mighty power, and the service they perform for God and his church, for the protection of which they are sent. A good man may see by faith what Jacob saw with his bodily eyes. To preserve the remembrance of this favour Jacob named the place Mahanaim, two hosts, or two camps. Probably they appeared to him in two hosts, one on either side, or one in the front and the other in the rear, to protect him from Laban behind and Esau before, and be a complete guard: or Jacobs family made one army, representing the church militant and itinerant on earth, and the angels another army, representing the church triumphant, and at rest in heaven.
32:2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, {a} This [is] God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
(a) He acknowledges God’s benefits: who for the preservation of his, sends hosts of angels.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes