The Bible accounts in Genesis 32:1&2 that when Laban, Jacob’s uncle, left Jacob to return home, Jacob went on his journey toward where God had asked him to – the land of his father, his grandfather and his relatives (Genesis 31:3), the land of his birth (Genesis 31:13). And just as Jacob had started his journey, we are informed that angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s host (army)” and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Mahanaim in Hebrew means two camps. Two camps? What two camps?

Biblical scholars speculate a few possibilities as to what these two camps were. Some hypothesize that one was Jacob’s camp and the other was the camp of the angelic army. Others posit that there were two camps of angels. Since the Bible states that Jacob had just started his journey (Genesis 32:1), and that he divided his people that were with him into two bands, in fear and distress, after he came to learn that his brother Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men (Genesis 32:1), the conjecture that it was two camps of angels is more plausible.  

While the Bible does not explicitly state what these two camps were, reading through the verses carefully and sequentially, and cross referencing other Biblical scripture portions surface a hidden treasure that is edifying.  

God had promised to be with Jacob after he had commanded him to return to his family (Genesis 31:3,13). God’s army of angels was an indication of God’s presence going with his promise.

I would like to believe, that the two camps of angels were for the protection of Jacob, from threats that could come to him and his family from the front or behind.

Behind Jacob was Laban who had wronged him (Genesis 31:55) and in front of him (before him) was his brother Esau whom he had wronged (Genesis 32:3).

Another evidence of angelic protection all around (front and behind) can be found in the account of Elisha, the prophet of God, who supernaturally sees (just as Jacob did), God’s armies of angels surrounding him at Dothan (2 Kings 6:17).

Points to ponder:

God’s presence and protection goes with his promises and we can trust him and take him at his word. Jesus said, Go ye therefore into the world (the land of our birth) and be my followers, and Lo, I am with you always (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus, the Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him (Psalm 34:7) and he has armies of angels at his command, that will camp around you to protect you and guard you in all your ways (Psalm 91:11). So if God says “Go, and I will be with you” – just do it. Go and you will experience God’s presence and may supernaturally see mahanaim of God’s army encamping around you, to guard you in all your ways.

Genesis 32:1-2 (KJV)
1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Proverbs 34:7 (KJV)
7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV)
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.