Who was Hanani in the Bible?
The name of five men in the Old Testament
a. Prophet living at the time of Divided Monarchy
Hanani is first mentioned in 1 Kings 16:1, where he delivers a message from the Lord to King Baasha of Israel. Hanani prophesies against Baasha for his wickedness and informs him that his dynasty will be cut off. This prophecy comes to pass as Baasha’s son, Elah, is assassinated and his entire family is wiped out, fulfilling the word of the Lord spoken through Hanani (1 Kings 16:7). Hanani is also mentioned in 2 Chronicles 16:7, where he rebukes King Asa of Judah for relying on the king of Aram instead of seeking help from the Lord. Asa had sought the help of the king of Aram to defeat the northern kingdom of Israel, but Hanani condemns this action and informs Asa that because he relied on human power instead of God, he would face continued wars. Asa responds by imprisoning Hanani and mistreating some of the people. As a result, Asa himself faces illness in his later years. In 2 Chronicles 19:2, Hanani confronts King Jehoshaphat of Judah for forming an alliance with the wicked king Ahab of Israel. Hanani warns Jehoshaphat that God is displeased with his actions and that he should be careful not to help the wicked, for doing so would bring the wrath of God upon him. Lastly, in 2 Chronicles 20:34, Hanani is mentioned again in passing as the source of information for the Book of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is not included in the Bible.
b. A singer
1 Chronicles 25:4 lists Hanani as a singer appointed by King David.
c. A post-exile divorcee
Ezra 10:20 lists Hanani as one of the men who had married foreign women during the exile. As part of Ezra’s religious reforms after the exile, the men were required to divorce their foreign wives.
d. Nehemiah’s brother
In Nehemiah 1:2, Hanani is identified as the son of Hacaliah and the brother of Nehemiah.
e. A musician
Nehemiah 12:36 lists Hanani as one of the priests who attended the dedication of the Jerusalem wall upon its completion. He was among the priests responsible for leading musical worship at the dedication.