Who was Hanan in the Bible?

Hanan was the son of Zaccur, appointed by Nehemiah as a treasurer responsible for the storehouses in Jerusalem after the return from exile (Nehemiah 13:13). His role was to faithfully distribute portions to the priests and Levites.

Why is Hanan mentioned in the Book of Nehemiah?

Hanan is mentioned as an example of a faithful and trustworthy administrator during the rebuilding of Jerusalem's community. His appointment highlights Nehemiah's efforts to restore proper order and integrity to the temple's operations and support for its workers.

What was Hanan's responsibility as a treasurer?

Hanan's primary duty was to oversee the storehouses that held the tithes of grain, new wine, and olive oil. He, along with others, was tasked with ensuring these contributions were distributed fairly to the Levites so they could focus on their temple service (Nehemiah 13:13).

Hanan

Old TestamentExile & ReturnMaleReturned leader

Hanan, the son of Zaccur, was appointed by Nehemiah as one of the treasurers responsible for the storehouses.

Hanan

Biography

Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, was appointed by Nehemiah as one of four official treasurers responsible for overseeing the distribution of the tithes stored in the Temple storehouses (Nehemiah 13:13). Nehemiah made this appointment upon his return to Jerusalem after a period of absence at the Persian court, having discovered that the storehouses had been mismanaged, most scandalously, Tobiah the Ammonite had been given a chamber within the Temple itself by the high priest Eliashib. In response, Nehemiah expelled Tobiah, cleansed the rooms, and reorganized the stewardship of Temple resources. Hanan was selected alongside the priest Shelemiah, the scribe Zadok, and the Levite Pedaiah specifically because they were considered trustworthy men, a virtue explicitly noted in Nehemiah 13:13.

Significance

Hanan son of Zaccur embodies the principle of faithful stewardship in God's house. His appointment reflects Nehemiah's insistence that the material resources devoted to God's worship be handled with absolute integrity, particularly after a period of corruption. The designation of trustworthy treasurers was not administrative routine but a spiritual act: the proper distribution of tithes sustained the Levites and priests who served at the Temple, and neglect of the storehouses had already caused God's servants to abandon their posts (Nehemiah 13:10). Hanan thus represents those whose faithfulness in practical, behind-the-scenes responsibilities makes continued worship and ministry possible for the whole community.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherIgdaliah

Verse Appearances (1)

Nehemiah

Nehemiah 13:13

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]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources