<strong>BANI</strong> (bā'nī, Heb. <em>bānî, posterity</em>)<br /><br />

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<strong>BANI</strong> <strong>bā’ nī</strong> (<span class="hebrew">בָּנִ֖י</span>, <em>build</em>). 1. A Gadite; one of David’s “thirty,” the military elite of its time (<bibleref ref="2Sam.23.36">2 Sam 23:36</bibleref>). The parallel passage in <bibleref ref="1Chr.11.38">1 Chronicles 11:38</bibleref> has “son of Hagri” which S. R. Driver judges to be a corruption of the Samuel texts (Sam.—p. 371).<br /><br />

2. An ancestor of the Levite Merari through the family of Ethan whose son served in the Tabernacle during the time of David (<bibleref ref="1Chr.6.46">1 Chron 6:46</bibleref>).

3. A descendant of the tribe of Pharez, son of Judah by Uthai, a postexilic inhabitant of Jerusalem (<bibleref ref="1Chr.9.4">1 Chron 9:4</bibleref>). The Kethibh and the LXX combine this name and the next word and read “Benjamin.”<br /><br />

4. The ancestor of some who returned with Zerubbabel (<bibleref ref="Ezra.2.10">Ezra 2:10</bibleref>, <bibleref ref="1Esd.5.12">1 Esd 5:12</bibleref>); called Binnui in <bibleref ref="Neh.7.15">Nehemiah 7:15</bibleref>.<br /><br />

5. An ancestor of Shelomith who accompanied Ezra as a representative from Babylon to be restored to <bibleref ref="Ezra.8.10">Ezra 8:10</bibleref> on the basis of <bibleref ref="1Esd.8.36">1 Esd 8:36</bibleref>.

6. One whose descendants had taken foreign wives (<bibleref ref="Ezra.10.29">Ezra 10:29</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="1Esd.9.30">1 Esd 9:30</bibleref>, Maani) and the list continues in <bibleref ref="Ezra.10.38">Ezra 10:38</bibleref> mentioning another (?) Bani and Binnui (<bibleref ref="1Esd.9.34">1 Esd 9:34</bibleref>).

7. A Levite whose son helped to repair the wall (<bibleref ref="Neh.3.17">Neh 3:17</bibleref>).

8. A Levite who along with others assisted Ezra in expounding the law of God (<bibleref ref="Neh.8.7">Neh 8:7</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Neh.9.4">9:4</bibleref>f.) called Anniuth in <bibleref ref="1Esd.9.48">1 Esdras 9:48</bibleref>.

9. One of the Levitical representatives who signed the covenant in response to the great revival upon hearing the law of God again proclaimed (<bibleref ref="Neh.10.13">Neh 10:13</bibleref>).

10. One of the “chiefs of the people” who signed the same covenant as in #9 (<bibleref ref="Neh.10.14">Neh 10:14</bibleref>).

11. Father of an overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem of the sons of Asaph, “the singers, over the business of the house of God” (<bibleref ref="Neh.11.22">Neh 11:22</bibleref>).<br /><br />

This name is easily confused with Binnui or Bunah and its popularity in the postexilic period makes it even more difficult. A further difficulty is encountered in sorting out the individuals with this name from its use as a family or clan name. Some of the above may therefore refer to the same Bani.<br /><br />

<h2>Bibliography</h2>

M. Noth, IPN, 172.<br /><br />

<h2>International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)</h2>

(bani, "posterity"):<br /><br />

(1) A Gadite, one of David’s mighty men (<bibleref ref="2Sam.23.36">2Sa 23:36</bibleref>).

(2) A Levite whose son was appointed for service in the tabernacle at David’s time (<bibleref ref="1Chr.6.46">1Ch 6:46</bibleref>).

(3) A Judahite whose son lived in Jerusalem after the captivity (<bibleref ref="1Chr.9.4">1Ch 9:4</bibleref>).<br /><br />

(4) The descendants of Bani (called Binnui, <bibleref ref="Neh.7.15">Ne 7:15</bibleref>) returned with Zerubbabel (<bibleref ref="Ezra.2.10">Ezr 2:10</bibleref>) and had taken "strange wives" (<bibleref ref="Ezra.10.29">Ezr 10:29</bibleref>).

(5) Bani who had taken a "strange wife" (<bibleref ref="Ezra.10.38">Ezr 10:38</bibleref>) mentioned with his brothers, the sons of Bani who also had taken "strange wives" (<bibleref ref="Ezra.10.34">Ezr 10:34</bibleref>).

(6) Son of Bani, a Levite and builder (<bibleref ref="Neh.3.17">Ne 3:17</bibleref>).

(7) Bani, who instructed the people at Ezra’s time (<bibleref ref="Neh.8.7">Ne 8:7</bibleref>).

(8) Three Levites mentioned in connection with the temple worship at Ezra’s time (<bibleref ref="Neh.9.4">Ne 9:4</bibleref>,<bibleref ref="Neh.9.5">5</bibleref>).<br /><br />

(9) A Levite who sealed the covenant with Ne (<bibleref ref="Neh.10.13">Ne 10:13</bibleref>).

(10) A leader of the people who also signed the covenant (<bibleref ref="Neh.10.14">Ne 10:14</bibleref>).

(11) One whose son Uzzi was overseer of the Levites at Jerusalem (<bibleref ref="Neh.11.22">Ne 11:22</bibleref>).<br /><br />

See [[Binnui]].<br /><br />