Ono
Ono is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Coastal Plain in modern-day Israel. Known today as Kafr Ana. It appears across 5 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Ono was a Benjaminite city situated in the coastal plain of ancient Israel. It first appears in 1 Chronicles 8:12, listed among the towns built or rebuilt by Shemed, a descendant of Benjamin, alongside Lod and its surrounding villages. The city gained renewed prominence during the post-exilic period. In Ezra 2:33 and Nehemiah 7:36, the "sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono" are counted among those returning from Babylonian exile, numbering 725 persons. This indicates that Ono had been a significant Benjaminite settlement before the deportation. The city features in a notable episode of political intrigue in Nehemiah 6:2, where Sanballat and Geshem attempted to lure Nehemiah to a meeting in the "Plain of Ono," intending to do him harm. Nehemiah wisely refused, recognizing the invitation as a trap designed to halt the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. The plain of Ono thus became associated with the enemies' schemes against God's restoration work, and Nehemiah's refusal demonstrated faithful vigilance in the face of opposition.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Ono is traditionally identified with Kafr Ana, a village that existed until 1948, located approximately eight kilometers southeast of modern Tel Aviv in the coastal plain. The site sits near the head of the Ayalon Valley, which served as a natural corridor between the coast and the central hill country. Some scholars alternatively identify Ono with nearby Khirbet Kafr Ana. Surface surveys have revealed pottery from the Iron Age through the Byzantine period, confirming long occupation. The surrounding plain, known in Nehemiah as the "Plain of Ono," corresponds to the fertile lowlands of the modern Lod-Ramla area. The region has been heavily developed as part of greater Tel Aviv's urban sprawl, limiting archaeological investigation.
Verse Appearances (5)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →