Hanun

Hanun (/ˈheɪnən/ Hebrew: חָנוּן‎‎ Ḥānûn) was a king of Ammon described in 2 Samuel [1] and 1 Chronicles.[2]

Illustration from the Morgan Bible depicting Hanun humiliating David's ambassadors.

Biblical narrative

Upon the death of his father Nahash, Hanun ascended to the throne of the Ammonites. When King David sent ambassadors to convey his condolences, Hanun listened to the suspicions of the "princes of the people of Ammon", reversed his father's pro-Davidic policy and humiliated the emissaries, stripping them of their clothes and shaving half of their beards. He allied with the Syrian king Hadadezer against Israel but was defeated and deposed. His brother Shobi was made king in his stead and became a loyal vassal of David.

Other people of this name

Two other people in the Hebrew Bible also called Hanun were:

1. A Jew who returned from the Babylonian Exile and, with the people of Zanoah, repaired the valley gate in the wall of Jerusalem. (Nehemiah iii. 13)
2. The sixth son of Zalaph, who also assisted in the repairing of the wall (Nehemiah iii. 30).

References

1. 2 Samuel 10:1–5
2. 1 Chronicles 19:1–7

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "Hanun". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.