McClintock Biblical Encyclopedia: Hanani

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McClintock Biblical Encyclopedia: Hanani


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(Heb Chanani', çֲðָðַé , God has gratified me, or an abbreviation of the name Hananiah; Sept. Á᾿íáíß , but Á᾿íáíßá in Ezr_10:10, and Á᾿íáíßáò in Neh_7:2; Vulg. Hanani), the name of at least three men.

1. One of the sons of Heman, who (with his eleven kinsmen) had charge of the eighteenth division of Levitical musicians in the appointments of David (1Ch_25:4; 1Ch_25:25). B.C. 1014.

2. A prophet who was sent to rebuke king Asa for his want of faith in subsidizing the king of Syria against the rival king Baasha, whereas he should rather have seized the occasion to triumph over both (2 Chronicles 16:1-10). In punishment for this defection from the true God, he was threatened with a troublous residue to his reign. SEE ASA. Enraged at the prophet's boldness, the king seized and thrust him into prison, from which, however, he appears to have been soon released. B.C. 928. This Hanani is probably the same with the father of the prophet Jehu, who denounced king Baasha (1Ki_16:7), also king Jehoshaphat (2Ch_19:2; comp. 20:34).

3. Apparently a brother of Nehemiah, who went from Jerusalem to Shushan, being sent most probably by Ezra, and brought that information respecting the miserable condition of the returned Jews which led to the mission of Nehemiah (Neh_1:2). Hanani came back to Judaea probably along with his brother, and, together with one Hananiah, was appointed to take charge of the gates of Jerusalem, and see that they were opened in the morning and closed in the evening at the appointed time (Neh_7:2). The circumstances of the time and place rendered this an important and responsible duty, not unattended with danger. B.C. 446.