Binnui

The name Binnui was common and was similar to other Jewish names, such as Bani and Bavvai. This has caused much confusion in the family lists. The following arrangement is one of several possible ways to understand these names.

Noadiah’s father. Noadiah was a Levite in charge of weighing temple valuables after the exile in Babylon (Ezra 8:33). Possibly the same as #4 below.

Pahath-moab’s son or descendant. He obeyed Ezra’s command to divorce his non-Jewish wife after the exile in Babylon (Ezra 10:30).

One of Bani’s sons or descendants. He obeyed Ezra’s command to divorce his non-jewish wife, according to the Apocrypha (a set of ancient texts not included in the Hebrew Bible but accepted by some Christian groups) and the King James Version (Ezra 10:38; 1 Esdras 9:34).

The list of Bani’s family members is very long. Ezra 10:38 in Hebrew can be translated “of the sons of Binnui.” Most modern translations make Binnui the ancestor of the group and not a descendant of Bani.

Henadad’s son. He rebuilt part of Jerusalem’s wall after the exile in Babylon (Nehemiah 3:24). He was among the Levites who signed Ezra’s promise to be faithful to God (Nehemiah 10:9).

Another spelling for Bani in Nehemiah 7:15. See Bani #4.

A Levite who returned to Judah with Zerubbabel after the exile in Babylon. He was one of several in charge of songs of thanksgiving (Nehemiah 12:8).