מַחֲנֶה, camp, esp. the encampment of the Israelites in the desert (v. Num. II); transferred to the limits of graded sacredness in Jerusalem (v. מְחִיצָה II). Sifré Num. 1 מַחְנֵה ישראל the camp of the Israelites (from the gate of Jerusalem to the Temple mount); מ׳ לויה the camp of the attendants (priests and Levites, from the Temple mount to the Temple court); מ׳ שכינה the camp of the Divine Majesty (from the entrance of the court and further). Ib. מ׳ ארון the camp of the Ark in the desert (= מ׳ לויה); Y. Sot. VIII, 22ᵇ bot.; a. fr.—Pl. מַחֲנוֹת. Sifré l. c. שלש מ׳ הן there are three camps of graded sacredness (= מְחִיצוֹת).