Hashabniah

The name Hashabniah — spelled Hashabneiah in UPDV — is borne by two men in Nehemiah's record, one identified by his son's wall-building work and the other by his place among the Levites at the great public assembly.

Father of Hattush, the Wall-Builder

The first appearance is in the Nehemiah 3 register of who repaired which section of Jerusalem's wall: "And next to them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, across from his house. And next to him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabneiah" (Nehemiah 3:10). The line places Hashabneiah's son in the chain of householders restoring the wall section by section, and Hashabneiah himself is named only to identify Hattush.

A Levite at the Public Blessing

The second appearance is in the Levitical roster that opens chapter 9's covenant-renewal liturgy: "Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, [and] Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless Yahweh your⁺ God from everlasting to everlasting; and let them bless your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise" (Nehemiah 9:5). Here the name belongs to a Levite standing among the leaders who call the assembly to its blessing.