Ma'hali (Exod. vi, 19). See Mahlt.
Maha-maya is the name of the mother of Buddha. See Gautajia.
Mahana'im (Hebrew Afachana'yim, d^iriB, tico camps, as often, and explained in Gen. xxxii, 2 as mean- ing the heavenly army of God ; where the Sept. has Jlaoipjio\al,\n\g. Muhanaim, iciest Castra ; elsewhere Maai'aip or Mnavaip, once Mavaifi, sometimes na- pspiioXai ; Vulg. Manaim, but usually castra), a place beyond the Jordan, north of the river Jabbok, which de- rived its name from Jacob's having been tliere met by the angels (Josephus, Gfou orpardTTf^o)', .-l^^ i, 20, 1) on his return from Padan-aram (Gen. xxxii, 2). See Jacob. The name was eventuall)' extended to the town which then existed, or which afterwards arose in the neighborhood. This town was on the confines of the tribes of Gad and Manasseh, as well as on the southern boundary of Bashan (Josh, xiii, 26,30), and was a city of the Levites (Josh, xxi, 38 ; 1 Cliron. vi, 80). It was in this city that Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, reigned (2 Sam. ii, 8, 12) during David's reign at Hebron, and here he was assassinated (ch. iv). The choice of this place was probably because he found the influence of David's name less strong on the east than on the west of the Jordan ; at least, it seems to show that Mahanaim was then an important and strong place (comp. 2 Sam. ii, 29 ; xix, 32). Ilence, raanj^ years after, David himself re- paired to Mahanaim, where he was entertained by Bar- zillai, the aged sheik of that district, when he sought refuge beyond the Jordan from his son Absalom (2 Sam. xvii, 2i, 27; IKingsii, 8). In this vicinity also appears to have been fought the decisive battle in the wood of Ephraim, between the royal troops and the rebels (2 Sam. xviii). See David. We only read of Mahanaim again as the station of one of the twelve officers who had charge, in monthly rotation, of raising the provis- ions for the royal establishment under Solomon (1 Kings iv, 14). Some find an allusion to the place in Cant. vi, 13 (" companies of two armies," lit. dance of Ma- hanaim), but this is doubtful. " On the monument of Sheshonk (Shishak) at Karnak, in the 22d cartouch — one of those which are believed to contain the names of Israelitish cities conquered by that king — a name ap- pears which is read as M'^-ha-n-m", that is, Mahanaim. The adjiiining cartouches contain names which are read as Bi'thshean, Shunem, Megiddo, Beth-horon, Gibeon, and other Israelitish names (Brugsch, Genrp: der nach- barliimlcr yEr/yptens, p. Gl). If this interpretation may be relied on, it shows that the invasion of Shishak was more extensive than we should gather from the records of th'j Bible (2 Chron. xii), which are occupied mainly with occurrences at the metropolis. Possibly the army entered by the plains of Philistia and Sharon, ravaged Esdraelon and some towns like Mahanaim just beyond
Jordan, and then returned, either by the same route ot by the Jordan valley, to Jerusalem, attacking it last. This would account for Rehoboam's non-resistance, and also for the fact, of which special mention is made, that many of the chief men of the country had taken refuge in the city. It should, however, be remarked that the names occur in most promiscuous order, and that none has been found resembling Jerusalem" (Smith). In Dr. Eli Smith's Arabic list of names of places in Jebel Ajhm (Robinson's Bib. Eesearches, iii. Append, p. 1G6), we find a ruined site mider the name of Mahneh, which is prob- ably that of ]\Iahanaim (comp. Schwarz, Palest, p. 231 ; Keil's Comment, on Josh, xiii, 2G). The same identifi- cation was pointed out b}' the Jewish traveller Hap- Parchi, according to -whom it lies about half a day's journey due east of Bethshan (Zunz, in Asher's edit, of Benj. of Tudela, p. 40), the same direction as in Kie- pert's Map, but only half as far. Its distance from the Jabbok is a considerable but not fatal objection. Tris- tram visited the place which he defends at length as the site of Mahanaim, and describes it as well situated for a large town, with considerable remains and a fine pond (Land of Israel, p. 483).
Ma'haneh-dan (Heb. MacMneh'-Dan, "il'njn^, camp of Ban; Septuag. UapspfioX)) Aov, Vulg. Castra 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 (Judg. xviii, 12). Mr. Williams suggests a site called Beit 3Ia- hanem, on the north side of wady Ismail, and N.N.E. of Deir el Howa {IIoli/ City, i, 12, note) ; but the name ap- pears on no map, and occurs in no other trav'eller.
Maha-Pralya (i. e. the " great end" or " great de- struction"), a term applied by the Hindus to the final consummation of all things, which they suppose will take place after a hundred years of Brahma have elapsed (each Brahmanic day, with its night, is reckoned as 8G40 millions of our j^ears). At the time referred to, all the gods, including Brahma, as weU as aU creatures, will be annihilated; Brahm,thc eternal, self-existent Spirit, will alone remain. See ]\Ioor, Hindoo Pantheon ; Thomas, iJict. of Bio(j. and My t hoi. s. v.