Ananiah

Ananiah, meaning protected by Jehovah, is a town in the tribe of Benjamin listed among the settlements reoccupied by Benjaminites after the return from Babylonian exile (Neh. 11:32). Its location between Nob and Hazor suggests it lay in the hill country north of Jerusalem, and it is generally identified with the modern site of Beit Hanina, northwest of the city.

The name Ananiah is also borne by an individual in the post-exilic period: a man described as the grandfather of Azariah, who assisted in repairing the wall of Jerusalem under Nehemiah (Neh. 3:23). Whether the personal name and the place name share a common origin or simply reflect the widespread use of theophoric names in Judah during this period cannot be determined from the biblical text alone.