Hanes
Hanes is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Egypt in modern-day Egypt. Known today as Ihnasiyyah al Madinah. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Hanes is mentioned once in Scripture, in Isaiah 30:4, within the prophet's oracle of woe against Israel's misguided policy of seeking military alliance with Egypt rather than trusting in God: 'For his officials are at Zoan and his envoys reach Hanes.' Isaiah condemned Judah's embassy to Egypt during the period of Assyrian threat under Sennacherib, arguing that Egypt would prove a broken reed that would pierce the hand of any who leaned upon it (Isaiah 30:1-7; 36:6). Hanes — identified with the ancient Egyptian city of Heracleopolis Magna — was an important center south of the Delta that had served as a capital during the politically fragmented Ninth and Tenth Dynasties (circa 2160-2040 BC). By Isaiah's time, it was a significant city that Egyptian envoys and foreign diplomats would naturally visit. The mention of Hanes alongside Zoan (Tanis) illustrates the prophet's knowledge of Egyptian geography and his condemnation of Judah's political pragmatism over covenantal faithfulness. This foreign policy failure would contribute to the eventual Babylonian exile.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Hanes is identified with Heracleopolis Magna, known in Egyptian as Hwt-nen-nesu, corresponding to modern Ihnasiyyah al Madinah (Ehnasya el Medina) in Middle Egypt. Excavations by Egyptian and Spanish archaeologists have uncovered extensive remains including temples, tombs, and administrative buildings spanning from the Old Kingdom through the Late Period. The site served as the capital of the Ninth and Tenth Dynasties during Egypt's First Intermediate Period and maintained political and religious importance into the New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period. Temple of Heryshef, the ram-headed deity who was the city's patron god, has been partially excavated, revealing elaborate architectural remains and statuary.
Verse Appearances (1)
Isa
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →