Who was Conaniah in the Bible?

Conaniah was a Levite appointed during the reign of King Hezekiah. He was placed in charge of receiving, storing, and distributing the tithes and offerings brought by the people to the temple (2 Chronicles 31:12-13).

What was Conaniah's role and why was it important?

His role was to faithfully oversee the contributions for the priests and Levites, ensuring the temple service could continue. This administrative responsibility was vital for supporting worship and religious reform under the godly king Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 31:4-13).

Is Conaniah mentioned more than once in the Bible?

Yes, Conaniah appears in two contexts. He is first mentioned overseeing offerings under Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 31). Later, a man of the same name is noted as a leader who contributed animals for a Passover sacrifice under King Josiah (2 Chronicles 35:9).

Conaniah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleLevite

Conaniah, a Levite, was in charge of the offerings and distributions during Hezekiah's reign. (2Ch.31.12,13; 35.9)

Conaniah

Biography

Conaniah was a Levite who served in two important administrative capacities during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. According to 2 Chronicles 31:12-13, he was appointed as the chief overseer responsible for managing the tithes, offerings, and dedicated gifts that flooded into the temple storehouses during Hezekiah's sweeping religious reforms. His brother Shimei served under him as second in command. Conaniah is also mentioned in 2 Chronicles 35:9 as one of the Levite leaders who contributed generously to the great Passover celebration organized under King Josiah, though some scholars note this may refer to a later Levite of the same name. His role in both reigns points to a family tradition of faithful temple stewardship.

Significance

Conaniah's service during Hezekiah's revival illustrates the critical importance of faithful administration in sustaining corporate worship. The outpouring of tithes and offerings under Hezekiah was so great that new storehouses had to be constructed (2 Chronicles 31:10-11), and managing this abundance required trustworthy, organized leadership. Conaniah's appointment to this role reflects the biblical principle that integrity and competence in material stewardship are spiritual virtues, not merely practical ones. His example encourages the church in every age to honor those who manage resources for communal worship with the same respect accorded to those who preach and teach, for faithful stewardship undergirds the entire life of the worshipping community.

Verse Appearances (3)

2Chr

2Chr 31:12 2Chr 31:13 2Chr 35:9

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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