hananiah Summary and Overview

Jehovah has given. (1.) A chief of the tribe of Benjamin (1 Chr. 8:24). (2.) One of the sons of Heman (1 Chr. 25:4,23). (3.) One of Uzziah's military officers (2 Chr. 26:11). (4.) Grandfather of the captain who arrested Jeremiah (Jer. 37:13). (5.) Jer. 36:12. (6.) Neh. 10:23. (7.) Shadrach, one of the "three Hebrew children" (Dan. 1; 6:7). (8.) Son of Zerubbabel (1 Chr. 3:19, 21). (9.) Ezra 10:28. (10.) The "ruler of the palace; he was a faithful man, and feared God above many" (Neh. 7:2). (11.) Neh. 3:8. (12.) Neh. 3:30 (13.) A priest, son of Jeremiah (Neh. 12:12). (14.) A false prophet contemporary with Jeremiah (28:3, 17).

(gift of God). 1. One of the fourteen sons of Heman, and chief of the sixteenth course of singers. #1Ch 25:4,5,23| (B.C. 1014.) 2. A general in the army of King Uzziah. #2Ch 26:11| 3. Father of Zedekiah, in the reign of Jehoiakim. (B.C. before 605.) 4. Son of Azur, a Benjamite of Gibeon and a false prophet in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah. In the fourth year of his reign, B.C. 595, Hananiah withstood Jeremiah the prophet, and publicly prophesied in the temple that within two years Jeconiah and all his fellow captives with the vessels of the Lord's house, should be brought back to Jerusalem. #Jer 28:1| ... Hananiah corroborated his prophecy by taking from off the neck of Jeremiah the yoke which he wore by divine command. #Jer 27:1| ... and breaking it. But Jeremiah was bidden to go tell Hananiah that for the wooden yokes which he had broken he should make yokes of iron, so firm was the dominion of Babylon destined to he for seventy years. The prophet Jeremiah added to this rebuke the prediction of Hananiah's death, the fulfillment of which closes the history of this false prophet. 5. Grandfather of Irijah, the captain of the ward at the gate of Benjamin who arrested Jeremiah on the charge of deserting to the Chaldeans. #Jer 37:13| (B.C. before 589.) 6. Head of a Benjamite house. #1Ch 8:24| 7. The Hebrew name of Shadrach. He was of the house of David, according to Jewish tradition #Da 1:3,6,7,11,19; 2:17| 8. Son of Zerubbabel, #1Ch 3:19| from whom Christ derived his descent. He is the same person who is by St. Luke called Joanna. (B.C. after 536.) 9. One of the sons of Bebai who returned with Ezra from Babylon #Ezr 10:28| (B.C. 459.) 10. A priest, one of the makers of the sacred ointments and incense, who built a portion of the wall of Jerusalem in the days of Nehemiah. 11. Head of the priestly course of Jeremiah in the days of Joiakim. #Ne 12:12| (B.C. 610.) 12. Ruler of the palace at Jerusalem under Nehemiah. The arrangements for guarding the gates of Jerusalem were intrusted to him with Hanani the Tirshatha's brother. #Ne 7:2,3| (B.C. 446.) 13. An Israelite. #Ne 10:23|

HANANI'AH (whom God hath given). 1. A false prophet and contemporary with Jeremiah. He prophesied that the vessels of the Lord's house would be brought back from Babylon two years after the date of the prophecy, Jer 28:3. In token of deliverance from the bondage of Babylon, he broke the wooden yoke which Jeremiah wore in accordance with the divine command. Jeremiah was deceived by his pretensions, but subsequently called him a deceiver to his face, and prophesied his early death. He died that year, Jer 28:17. Hananiah's case is an instance of the false prophets with whom the true prophets came into conflict. 2. A Benjamite chief, 1 Chr 8:24. 3. One of the sons of Heman, 1 Chr 25:4, 1 Chr 25:23. 4. One of Uzziah's captains, 2 Chr 26:11. 5. One who had a foreign wife, Ezr 10:28. 6, 7. Two repairers of the wall of Jerusalem, Neh 3:8, Neh 3:30. 8, The "ruler of the palace," whom Nehemiah appointed to share with his brother the charge of the gates of Jerusalem, Neh 7:2. 9, One who signed the covenant, Neh 10:23. 10, 11, Two priests, Neh 12:12, Ex 12:41. 12, A son of Zerubabbel, 1 Chr 3:19, 1 Chr 3:21. 13, The father of one of Jehoiakim's princes, Jer 36:12. 14, Grandfather of the captain who arrested Jeremiah, Jer 37:13. 15, Original Hebrew name of Shadrach, Dan 1:6-7. HAND is a symbol of human action; "pure hands" are pure actions; "unjust hands" are deeds of injustice; "hands full of blood," actions stained with cruelty; and the like. Ps 24:4; Eze 23:37. It is likewise a term for the vengeance of God exercised upon any one, 1 Sam 5:6-7. "To pour water on any one's hands" was to serve him. So Elisha is said to have done for Elijah, 2 Kgs 3:11. "To wash one's hands" in public was a way of expressing innocency, Deut 21:6-7; Matt 27:24; "to kiss one's hand" is an act of adoration, Job 31:27; "to lift up one's hands" is to take an oath. Gen 14:22. Also it is a posture in blessing, Lev 9:22; also, to rebel, 2 Sam 20:21. "To stretch out the hand" is sometimes a gesture that denotes mercy, Isa 65:2; "to put it forth unto anything" is to steal, Ex 22:8, Ex 22:11. "To smite the hands together over the head" was a gesture of despairing grief. 2 Sam 13:19; Jer 2:37. Hand in general is the symbol of power and strength -- the right hand particularly so. "To be on one's right hand" is to be in one's favor. The Hebrews, in reckoning the four quarters, faced the east; consequently to "the right hand" signified to the south, the southern quarter; "to the left hand" signified to the north, the northern quarter. Job 23:9; 1 Sam 23:19, see margin; 2 Sam 24:5. These are a few out of the many uses of the word hand. One more use will be given: "To lay the hands upon any one," or the imposition of hands, was at an early period "a part of the ceremonial observed on the appointment and consecration of persons to high and holy undertakings." In Num 27:18 we read that Moses was commanded to lay his hand upon Joshua. This act did not confer any new grace upon Joshua, but merely gave formal and public confirmation of Jehovah's choice, and confirmed and strengthened the spiritual gifts already bestowed. Comp. Deut 34:9. The phrase is not used in the N.T. in exactly the same sense. Acts 8:15-17; 1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6. The apostles confirmed the grace the convert had received, as in the case of Cornelius, Acts 10:44-48, and in other cases conferred spiritual gifts and qualifications.

1. One of the singer Heman's 14 sons; chief of the 16th of the 24 courses into which the 288 Levite musicians were divided by king David; employed chiefly to "lift up the horn" (1 Chronicles 25:4-5; 1 Chronicles 25:23). 2. 2 Chronicles 26:11. 3. Jeremiah 36:12. 4. Son of Azur, the prophet of Gibeon, a priests' city (Jeremiah 28). In the fourth year of Zedekiah's reign Hananiah, in opposition to Jeremiah, foretold that Jeconiah and the captives at Babylon would return with all the vessels of the Lord's house within two years. This hope rested on Pharaoh Hophra (Apries). Judah already had designed a league with Edom, Ammon, Moab, Tyre, and Sidon against Babylon. Their ambassadors had therefore come to Jerusalem, but were sent back with yokes and a divine message from Jeremiah that their several masters must submit to Nebuchadnezzar's yoke, to whom God had given these lands and the very beasts of the field, or else be punished with sword, famine, and pestilence (Jeremiah 27). Hananiah broke off the yokes on Jeremiah's neck, in token of God's breaking off Nebuchadnezzar's yoke. Compare 1 Kings 22:11-24-25. Jeremiah said Amen, praying it might be so; but warned him that for the broken wooden yokes he should have iron yokes, adding "Hananiah, the Lord hath not sent thee, but thou makest this people trust in a lie ... therefore ... this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the Lord. So Hananiah died the same year in the 7th month." In Zedekiah's 6th year the league with Pharaoh Hophra tempted Zedekiah to open revolt in violation of his oath to Nebuchadnezzar (Ezekiel 17:12-20). A temporary raising of the siege of Jerusalem, through the Egyptian ally, was soon followed by the return of the Chaldaean army, the capture of Jerusalem, and the blinding of Zedekiah and his removal to Babylon (Ezekiel 37:5). Each claimant to inspiration, as Hananiah, must stand two tests: does his prophecy accord with past revelations of God's word? does the event verify it? Hananiah failed in both. Moreover, he promised sinners peace and safety without repentance. Hananiah's namesake in New Testament is a similar warning in stance of God' s vengeance on the man "whosoever loveth and maketh a lie" (Acts 5); a foretaste of the final retribution (Revelation 22:15). 5. Jeremiah 37:13. 6. 1 Chronicles 8:24. 7. (See SHADRACH; ANANIAS.) Of the house of David (Daniel 1:3; Daniel 1:6-7; Daniel 1:11; Daniel 1:19; Daniel 2:17). 8. 1 Chronicles 3:19. Identified by some with Joanna (the Jah or Jehovah being put at the beginning instead of at the end, as in Hanan-jah, "graciously given by Jehovah"), Luke 3:27. 9. Ezra 10:28. 10. Exodus 30:22-28; 1 Chronicles 9:30; Nehemiah 3:8; Nehemiah 3:30, compare New 12:41. 11. Nehemiah 12:12. 12. Ruler of the palace (as Eliakim "over the house" of Hezekiah) along with Hanani, Nehemiah's brother, at Jerusalem. Nehemiah 7:2-3, "a faithful man who feared God above many." (See ELIAKIM.) Had charge concerning setting watches, and opening and shutting the city gates. Prideaux argues from this Nehemiah at this time returned to Persia; but his presence in Jerusalem some time after the wall's completion is implied in Nehemiah 7:5-65; Nehemiah 8:9; Nehemiah 10:1. Moreover, Gesenius (from Nehemiah 2:8) thinks habbirah in Nehemiah 7:2 means not the governor's (tirshatha) palace, but the fortress of the Lord's "house"; in this case Hananiah was a priest. But the charge as to the city gates implies a civil, not a sacerdotal, office. The Hebrew for "over (al) Jerusalem" may mean simply "concerning." 13. Nehemiah 10:23.