Hananiah חֲנַנְיָ֫הוּ
A gatekeeper during the time of Jeremiah.
Who is Hananiah in the Bible?
Hananiah, the son of Shelemiah, was a gatekeeper in Jerusalem during the Babylonian siege under King Zedekiah. According to Jeremiah 37:13, when the prophet Jeremiah attempted to leave the city for the land of Benjamin, Hananiah arrested him at the Benjamin Gate on suspicion of defecting to the enemy. Despite Jeremiah's denial of the charge, Hananiah brought him before the officials, who subsequently beat and imprisoned the prophet. His actions illustrate the climate of fear and suspicion that gripped Jerusalem during the final days of the kingdom, as well as the hostility that even officials could direct toward God's prophets during times of national crisis.
Biography
Hananiah, the son of Shelemiah, is mentioned in Jer.37.13 as a gatekeeper during the time of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. When Jeremiah attempted to leave Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin, Hananiah arrested him at the Benjamin Gate, accusing him of defecting to the Babylonians. Despite Jeremiah's denial of the charge, Hananiah brought the prophet to the officials, who beat him and imprisoned him in the house of Jonathan the scribe. This incident occurred during the reign of King Zedekiah when the Babylonian army was besieging Jerusalem. Hananiah's actions reflect the tense and suspicious atmosphere in the city during this time, as well as the opposition faced by Jeremiah for his prophetic messages.
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In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentJeremiah 1 verse
- Jeremiah 37:13
"But when he reached the Gate of Benjamin, the captain of the guard, whose name was Irijah son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah, seized him and said, “You are deserting to the Chaldeans!”"
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | חֲנַנְיָ֫הוּ |