Lexical Summary Choroni: Choronite Original Word: חֹרֹנִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Horonite Patrial from Choronayim; a Choronite or inhabitant of Choronaim -- Horonite. see HEBREW Choronayim NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom Beth (in part) Definition inhab. of Beth-horon NASB Translation Horonite (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs חֹרֹנִי adjective, of a people see id. Topical Lexicon Geographic Identity and Possible Origins The term refers to a resident of “Horon,” but Scripture does not specify whether this is Beth-horon in Ephraim (Joshua 10:10; 1 Kings 9:17) or Horonaim in Moab (Isaiah 15:5). Both sites lay on major north–south trade routes, allowing a Horonite to move easily within the vast Persian Empire. Either location places the bearer outside Judah, which is the critical point in Nehemiah: the title marks Sanballat as an outsider whose interests clash with the covenant people’s restoration. Historical Setting All three occurrences fall within the memoirs of Nehemiah (circa 445–420 BC), governor of Judah under Artaxerxes I. After the exile, Judah remained a small, vulnerable province surrounded by stronger neighbors: Samaria to the north, Ammon and Moab to the east, and Philistia to the west. Sanballat the Horonite, together with Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab, represents the political coalition most threatened by the re-establishment of Jerusalem’s defenses and religious life. Opposition to Jerusalem’s Rebuilding Nehemiah 2:10 introduces Sanballat: “When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites”. Their hostility intensifies in 2:19 with ridicule and insinuations of rebellion, and culminates in a conspiracy to attack the city (Nehemiah 4:7–8) and an assassination plot (Nehemiah 6:1–14). The title “Horonite” signals that the opposition is not merely personal but regional and religious: foreign nobles resist Judah’s God-given restoration. Compromise in the Priesthood Nehemiah 13:28 records a grave compromise: “One of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest had married the daughter of Sanballat the Horonite. So I drove him away from me”. Through marriage, Sanballat secured influence within the highest priestly circles, threatening the purity of Temple worship. Nehemiah’s expulsion of the offending priest safeguarded the line set apart for holy service (Exodus 29:9; Malachi 2:4–7). Political and Spiritual Significance 1. Covenant Separation: The Horonite’s alliance with Jerusalem’s priesthood illustrates why intermarriage with surrounding nations was forbidden (Deuteronomy 7:3–4). When boundaries are blurred, covenant identity erodes. Later Developments and Legacy Extra-biblical records (e.g., the Elephantine papyri and Josephus, Antiquities 11.302-347) suggest Sanballat’s descendants fostered the Samaritan schism and built a rival temple on Mount Gerizim. While these sources stand outside the canon, they underscore the long-term fallout when political ambition intertwines with religious authority. Lessons for Ministry Today • Opposition often rallies around influential outsiders whose interests are threatened by God-honoring reforms. Key References Nehemiah 2:10; Nehemiah 2:19; Nehemiah 13:28. Related: Deuteronomy 7:3–4; Ezra 4:1–5; Nehemiah 4:1–9; Nehemiah 6:1–16; Malachi 2:4–9. Forms and Transliterations הַחֹרֹנִ֑י הַחֹרֹנִ֗י הַחֹרֹנִ֜י החרני ha·ḥō·rō·nî hachoroNi haḥōrōnîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Nehemiah 2:10 HEB: וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע סַנְבַלַּ֣ט הַחֹרֹנִ֗י וְטֽוֹבִיָּה֙ הָעֶ֣בֶד NAS: When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah KJV: When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah INT: heard Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah official Nehemiah 2:19 Nehemiah 13:28 3 Occurrences |
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