Mahaneh-Dan

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Mahaneh-Dan (  Judges 13:25;   Judges 18:12 ). The locality of this spot is given in these two passages as ‘behind Kiriath-jearim,’ and as ‘between Zorah and Eshtaol.’ In the former passage we are told that ‘the Spirit of Jehovah began to move Samson in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol’; in the latter passage the derivation of the name is given as the place where the last encampment of the band of 600 Danite warriors took place, before they set out on their expedition to Laish. The exact position of the spot has not been identified, as the site of Eshtaol (wh. see) is not known with certainty.

T. A. Moxon.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Ma'haneh-dan. (Camp Of Dan). Spoken of as "behind Kirjath-jearim,"  Judges 18:12, and as between Zorah and Eshtaol."  Judges 13:25.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Judges 18:1 Judges 13:25 2 Judges 18:12

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Judges 18:12

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

mā´ha - ne - dan ( מחנה־דן , maḥănēh - dhān  ; παρεμβολὴ Δάν , parembolḗ Dán ): This place is mentioned twice: in   Judges 13:25 (the King James Version "the camp of Dan"), and   Judges 18:12 . In Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol, the spirit of the Lord began to move Samson. Here the 600 marauders of Dan, coming from Zorah and Eshtaol, encamped behind Kiriath-jearim. It has been thought that these two statements contradict each other; or at least that they cannot both apply to the same place. But if we accept the identification of Zorah with Surah , and of Eshtaol with Eshu‛ , which there seems no reason to question; and if, further, we identify Kiriath-jearim with Khirbet Erma , which is at least possible, the two passages may be quite reconciled. Behind Kiriath-jearim, that is West of Khirbet Erma , runs the Vale of Sorek, on the north bank of which, about 2 miles apart, stand Zorah and Eshtaol; the former 3 1/2 miles, the latter 2 1/2 miles fron Khirbet Erma . No name resembling Mahanehdan has yet been recovered; but the place may have lain within the area thus indicated, so meeting the conditions of both passages, whether it was a permanent settlement, or derived its name only from the incident mentioned in  Judges 18:12 .

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Machaneh'-Dan, מִחֲנְהאּדָן , Camp Of Dan; Septuag. Παρεμβολὴ Δάν , Vulg. Casitre Dan ) , a name given to a spot west of Kirjath-jearim, in consequence of its having been the encampment of the party of Danites on their way to capture Laish ( Judges 18:12). Mr. Williams suggests a site called Beit Mahanem, on the north side of wady Ismail. and N.N.E. of Deir el Howa ( Holy City, 1:12, note); but the name appears on no map, and occurs in no other traveler.