Etymology and Meaning:
The name "Hananel" is derived from the Hebrew words "ḥānān," meaning "grace" or "favor," and "El," meaning "God." Thus, Hananel can be understood to mean "God is gracious" or "Grace of God."

Biblical References:
Hananel is primarily mentioned in the context of Jerusalem's fortifications. The "Tower of Hananel" is referenced in the Old Testament as a significant landmark in the city of Jerusalem.

1. Nehemiah 3:1 : "Then Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests set to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set up its doors, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel."

2. Nehemiah 12:39 : "over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. And they stopped at the Gate of the Guard."

3. Jeremiah 31:38 : "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when the city will be rebuilt for the LORD, from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate."

4. Zechariah 14:10 : "All the land will be changed into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. But Jerusalem will be raised up and remain in its place, from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses."

Historical and Theological Significance:
The Tower of Hananel is a notable feature in the descriptions of Jerusalem's walls, indicating its importance in the city's defense and structure. It is often mentioned alongside other significant gates and towers, suggesting its strategic and symbolic significance.

In the context of Nehemiah, the rebuilding of the walls, including the Tower of Hananel, represents the restoration of Jerusalem and the re-establishment of the Jewish community after the Babylonian exile. This restoration is seen as an act of divine grace and favor, aligning with the meaning of the name Hananel.

Jeremiah's prophecy about the rebuilding of the city from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate underscores the hope for a future restoration and the fulfillment of God's promises to His people. This prophetic vision is echoed in Zechariah, where the transformation and elevation of Jerusalem are depicted, further emphasizing the city's central role in God's redemptive plan.

Archaeological Insights:
While the exact location of the Tower of Hananel has not been definitively identified in modern archaeology, it is generally believed to have been situated in the northern part of Jerusalem's wall. Its repeated mention in biblical texts highlights its prominence in the ancient city's topography.

Symbolic Interpretation:
From a theological perspective, the Tower of Hananel can be seen as a symbol of God's protection and the enduring nature of His covenant with Israel. The references to its rebuilding and inclusion in prophetic visions of Jerusalem's future glory serve as reminders of God's faithfulness and the hope of restoration for His people.HANANEL, THE TOWER OF

ban'-an-el (chanan'el, "El (God) is gracious"; the King James Version Hananeel, ha-nan'e-el): A tower in the walls of Jerusalem adjoining (Nehemiah 3:1; Nehemiah 12:39) the tower of HAMMEAH (which see). The company of Levites coming from the West passed "by the fish gate, and the tower of Hananel, and the tower of Hammeah, even unto the sheep gate" (Nehemiah 12:39). In Jeremiah 31:38 it is foretold "that the city shall be built to Yahweh from the tower of Hananel unto the gate of the corner"-apparently the whole stretch of North wall. In Zechariah 14:10 it says Jerusalem "shall dwell in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananel unto the king's winepresses." These last were probably near Siloam, and the distance "from the tower of Hananel unto the king's winepresses" describes the greatest length of the city from North to South. All the indications point to a tower, close to the tower of Hammeah, near the Northeast corner, a point of the city always requiring special fortification and later the sites successively of the Baris and of the Antonia.

See JERUSALEM.

E. W. G. Masterman

2606. Chananel -- "God is gracious," a tower in Jer.
... "God is gracious," a tower in Jer. Transliteration: Chananel Phonetic Spelling:
(khan-an-ale') Short Definition: Hananel. ... NASB Word Usage Hananel (4). Hananeel. ...
/hebrew/2606.htm - 6k

Overcoming Great Difficulties
... and I after them, with half of the people, to the broad wall and above the Gate
of Ephraim and past the Old Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/overcoming great difficulties.htm

Hananel (4 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia HANANEL, THE TOWER OF. ban'-an-el
(chanan'el, "El (God) is gracious"; the King James Version Hananeel ...
/h/hananel.htm - 9k

Hammeah (2 Occurrences)
... It was the most important point on the walls of Jerusalem in going West from the
Sheep Gate, and is mentioned along with the T. of HANANEL (which see ...
/h/hammeah.htm - 8k

Angle (19 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 31:38 See, the days are coming, says the Lord, for the building of the
Lord's town, from the tower of Hananel to the doorway of the angle. (BBE). ...
/a/angle.htm - 14k

Rebuilt (47 Occurrences)
... the priests, and they built the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up its doors;
even to the tower of Hammeah they sanctified it, to the tower of Hananel. ...
/r/rebuilt.htm - 20k

Tower (74 Occurrences)
... It was the most important point on the walls of Jerusalem in going West from the
Sheep Gate, and is mentioned along with the T. of HANANEL (which see ...
/t/tower.htm - 52k

Jeshanah (3 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 12:39 and above the gate of Ephraim, and by the old gate, and by the fish
gate, and the tower of Hananel, and the tower of Hammeah, even to the sheep ...
/j/jeshanah.htm - 8k

Winepresses (5 Occurrences)
... will be lifted up, and will dwell in her place, from Benjamin's gate to the place
of the first gate, to the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananel to the ...
/w/winepresses.htm - 8k

Wine-crushing (1 Occurrence)
... and be living in her place; from the doorway of Benjamin to the place of the first
doorway, to the doorway of the angle, and from the tower of Hananel to the ...
/w/wine-crushing.htm - 6k

Wine-presses (4 Occurrences)
... be lifted up, and shall dwell in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place
of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananel unto the ...
/w/wine-presses.htm - 7k

Eli'ashib (15 Occurrences)
... and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it;
even unto the tower of Hammeah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananel. ...
/e/eli'ashib.htm - 10k

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