2586. Chanun

Lexical Summary

Chanun: Hanun

Original Word: חָנוּן
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Chanuwn
Pronunciation: khaw-NOON
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-noon')
KJV: Hanun
NASB: Hanun
Word Origin: [from H2603 (חָנַן - To be gracious)]

1. favored
2. Chanun, the name of an Ammonite and of two Israelites

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Hanun

From chanan; favored; Chanun, the name of an Ammonite and of two Israelites -- Hanun.

see HEBREW chanan

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from chanan
Definition
"favored," two contemporaries of Nehemiah, also an Ammonite king
NASB Translation
Hanun (11).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

חָנוּן (favoured; compare Assyrian –anunu, king of Gaza COT on 2 Kings 15:29); —

1 an Ammonite king 2 Samuel 10:1,2,3,4; 1 Chronicles 19:2 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 19:3,4,6.

2 Jewish chiefs, contemporaries of Nehemiah:

a. Nehemiah 3:18.

b. Nehemiah 3:30.

Topical Lexicon

Overview

The name Hanun is borne by three men in the Old Testament. Two are remembered for resisting the covenant people, one for laboring alongside them. Together their accounts trace a movement from hostility toward God’s purposes to humble cooperation in His restorative work.

Hanun son of Nahash, King of Ammon

• Occurrences: 2 Samuel 10:1–4; 1 Chronicles 19:2–6
• Background: Nahash had shown kindness to David during the fugitive years. Upon Nahash’s death, David sent emissaries to “console Hanun concerning his father” (2 Samuel 10:2).
• Misplaced Suspicion: Influenced by princes who asked, “Has David not sent these servants to explore the city?” (2 Samuel 10:3), Hanun humiliated the envoys—shaving half their beards and cutting their garments. In an honor-shame culture this act was deliberate provocation and public scorn of David’s goodwill.
• Escalation to War: Realizing the offense, Hanun “hired for himself thirty-two thousand chariots” of Aramean mercenaries (1 Chronicles 19:6). Israel, under Joab and Abishai, defeated both the Ammonites and their allies. The text repeatedly attributes victory to the LORD’s sovereign help (2 Samuel 10:12; 1 Chronicles 19:13).
• Aftermath: Ammon became subject to David, fulfilling earlier promises that Abraham’s descendants would possess the gates of their enemies. Hanun himself disappears from Scripture, a cautionary figure who rejected kindness, trusted worldly counsel, and suffered defeat.

Theological and Pastoral Reflections

1. Grace spurned becomes judgment. David’s gesture foreshadows Christ’s offer of reconciliation; to refuse it is ruinous (cf. John 1:11).
2. Counsel matters. Hanun listened to voices of fear rather than truth (Proverbs 13:20). Leaders today are warned to vet their advisors.
3. Spiritual warfare often begins with small offenses. The shaving of beards led to national conflict; unresolved contempt breeds greater sin (James 3:5–6).
4. God vindicates His servants. Though dishonored, David’s men were ultimately honored, and Israel’s borders were secured (Psalm 135:14).

Hanun of Zanoah, Rebuilder of the Valley Gate

• Occurrence: Nehemiah 3:13
• Role: Along with the residents of Zanoah, Hanun “repaired a thousand cubits of the wall to the Dung Gate.” His section was extensive, demonstrating zeal and community leadership.
• Significance: The Valley Gate faced the Hinnom Valley, once associated with idolatry. Its restoration symbolized a break with past defilement and a renewed commitment to holiness.

Hanun, Sixth Son of Zalaph

• Occurrence: Nehemiah 3:30
• Role: Repaired a portion of wall near the house of Eliashib. By naming him the “sixth son,” Scripture honors even younger or less-prominent builders, showing that every member has a place in God’s work (1 Corinthians 12:22).

Shared Name, Contrasting Legacies

The Ammonite Hanun defaced a beard; the Judean Hanuns rebuilt a wall. One tore down dignity, the others restored security. The juxtaposition reinforces that legacy is determined not by name or birth, but by response to God’s covenant purposes.

Ministry Applications

• Extend sincere kindness, yet be prepared for misunderstanding.
• Guard the heart against suspicion; assume charity where possible (1 Corinthians 13:7).
• Engage in communal restoration; no task is too humble in the kingdom.
• Remember that defeat or victory turns on alignment with God’s revealed will, not on numerical strength.

Selected Key Passages

2 Samuel 10:4 – “So Hanun seized David’s servants, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away.”

1 Chronicles 19:13 – “Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”

Nehemiah 3:13 – “Hanun and the residents of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They built it and installed its doors, bolts, and bars, rebuilding a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Dung Gate.”

Forms and Transliterations

וְחָנ֧וּן וחנון חָ֠נוּן חָנ֖וּן חָנ֜וּן חָנ֣וּן חָנ֥וּן חָנוּן֮ חנון לְחָנ֗וּן לחנון chaNun ḥā·nūn ḥānūn lə·ḥā·nūn lechaNun ləḥānūn vechaNun wə·ḥā·nūn wəḥānūn

Englishman's Concordance

2 Samuel 10:1
HEB: עַמּ֑וֹן וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ חָנ֥וּן בְּנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו׃
NAS: died, and Hanun his son
KJV: died, and Hanun his son
INT: of Ammon became and Hanun his son his place

2 Samuel 10:2
HEB: חֶ֣סֶד ׀ עִם־ חָנ֣וּן בֶּן־ נָחָ֗שׁ
NAS: kindness to Hanun the son
KJV: kindness unto Hanun the son
INT: kindness with to Hanun the son of Nahash

2 Samuel 10:3
HEB: עַמּ֜וֹן אֶל־ חָנ֣וּן אֲדֹֽנֵיהֶ֗ם הַֽמְכַבֵּ֨ד
NAS: said to Hanun their lord,
KJV: said unto Hanun their lord,
INT: of Ammon to Hanun their lord is honoring

2 Samuel 10:4
HEB: וַיִּקַּ֨ח חָנ֜וּן אֶת־ עַבְדֵ֣י
NAS: So Hanun took David's
KJV: Wherefore Hanun took David's
INT: took Hanun servants David's

1 Chronicles 19:2
HEB: חֶ֣סֶד ׀ עִם־ חָנ֣וּן בֶּן־ נָחָ֗שׁ
NAS: kindness to Hanun the son
KJV: kindness unto Hanun the son
INT: kindness with to Hanun the son of Nahash

1 Chronicles 19:2
HEB: עַמּ֛וֹן אֶל־ חָנ֖וּן לְנַחֲמֽוֹ׃
NAS: of Ammon to Hanun to console
KJV: of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort
INT: of Ammon to Hanun to console

1 Chronicles 19:3
HEB: בְנֵי־ עַמּ֜וֹן לְחָנ֗וּן הַֽמְכַבֵּ֨ד דָּוִ֤יד
NAS: said to Hanun, Do you think
KJV: said to Hanun, Thinkest
INT: of the sons of Ammon to Hanun is honoring David

1 Chronicles 19:4
HEB: וַיִּקַּ֨ח חָנ֜וּן אֶת־ עַבְדֵ֤י
NAS: So Hanun took David's
KJV: Wherefore Hanun took David's
INT: took Hanun servants David's

1 Chronicles 19:6
HEB: דָּוִ֑יד וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח חָ֠נוּן וּבְנֵ֨י עַמּ֜וֹן
NAS: to David, Hanun and the sons
KJV: to David, Hanun and the children
INT: to David sent Hanun and the children of Ammon

Nehemiah 3:13
HEB: הַגַּ֜יְא הֶחֱזִ֣יק חָנוּן֮ וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י זָנוֹחַ֒
NAS: Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah
KJV: repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants
INT: the Valley repaired Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah

Nehemiah 3:30
HEB: בֶן־ שֶׁלֶמְיָ֗ה וְחָנ֧וּן בֶּן־ צָלָ֛ף
NAS: of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth
KJV: of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth
INT: the son of Shelemiah and Hanun son of Zalaph

11 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2586
11 Occurrences

ḥā·nūn — 9 Occ.
lə·ḥā·nūn — 1 Occ.
wə·ḥā·nūn — 1 Occ.