Bani בָּנִי

Who is Bani in the Bible?

Bani was the ancestor of a Jewish family that returned from Babylonian exile to Judah, first mentioned in Ezra 2:10 and Nehemiah 7:15. His descendants were among the returnees who journeyed back to resettle their homeland and rebuild the temple, representing the fulfillment of God's promise to restore His people. Members of Bani's family also appear in later accounts, including Shelomith who returned with Ezra (Ezra 8:10) and another descendant listed among those who married foreign women and repented in response to Ezra's reforms (Ezra 10:29). The repeated mention of Bani's descendants throughout these restoration accounts demonstrates that his family played a significant role in the religious and social renewal of Judah following the exile.