Bible Dictionaries
Hanani

Holman Bible Dictionary

(huh nay' ni) Personal name meaning, “my grace” or a shortened form of “Yahweh is gracious.” 1. Father of prophet Jehu (1Kings 16:1,1 Kings 16:7; 2 Chronicles 19:2 ). 2 . Man who agreed under Ezra's leadership to divorce his foreign wife to protect the Jews from temptation to worship idols (Ezra 10:20 ). 3 . Nehemiah's brother who reported the poor conditions in Jerusalem to him while Nehemiah was still in Persia (Nehemiah 1:2 ). Nehemiah placed him in charge of the military protection of the restored Jerusalem (Nehemiah 7:2 ). Some have tried to identify him with the Hunani mentioned in the Elephantine Papyri, but this is far from certain. 4. Priest musician at dedication of Jerusalem walls (Nehemiah 12:36 ). 5 . Temple musician and descendant of Heman (1 Chronicles 25:4 ). Some would equate him with 4. above 6. Original leader of one course of Temple musicians (1 Chronicles 25:25 ). 7 . Prophetic seer who condemned King Asa of Judah (910-869 B.C.) for paying tribute to King Ben-hadad of Damascus rather than relying on God (2 Chronicles 16:7 ). Asa imprisoned Hanani (2 Chronicles 16:10 ).