Illustration created for this project.
Hanani (brother of Nehemiah)
The brother whose report of Jerusalem's broken walls moved Nehemiah to act, later made a guardian of the city.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 2
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Origin & birthplace
Family & lineage
Life, role & deeds
ScholarlyThe Elephantine 'Passover Papyrus' (TAD A4.1 / Cowley 21, dated 419 BCE), a letter from a Judean official named Hananiah to the Jewish garrison in Egypt, documents the very network of Persian-period Judean administration in which Nehemiah's brother Hanani operated; some scholars have gone further and proposed identifying that Hananiah with Hanani/Hananiah of Jerusalem, though the identification remains debated and unproven.
Elephantine Passover Papyrus, TAD A4.1 (Cowley 21); proposed identification discussed in scholarship, e.g. B. Porten, Archives from Elephantine
Where in scripture
NehemiahFamily
In their own words — 1 recorded saying
“They said to me, The small band of Jews now living there in the land are in great trouble and shame: the wall of Jerusalem has been broken down, and its doorways burned with fire. Then, after hearing these words, for some days I gave myself up to weeping and sorrow, seated on the earth; and taking no food I made prayer to the God of heaven, And said, O Lord, the God of heaven, the great God, greatly to be feared, keeping faith and mercy with those who have love for him and are true to his laws: Let your ear now take note and let your eyes be open, so that you may give ear to the prayer of…” — Nehemiah 1:3-11
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
Places in their life
Photo: Marie-Lan Nguyen — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)