Michiana Covenant Presbyterian Church

Israel was presently divided into – yes, you guessed it! Two camps! Mahanaim had originally been named by Jacob when he came back to the Promised Land. At Mahanaim the angels of God met him, and so he said, "This is God's camp" (the two camps being the angels and Jacob). Then, as soon as he hears that Esau is coming, he divides his own company into "two camps" in 32:7, and prays to God for mercy - thanking God that though he left the land with only his staff, now "I have become two camps" (32:10). Now under David and Saul's son Ish-Bosheth, the house of Jacob is divided once again.