nation’s resolution to serve Jehovah faithfully (455 B.C.E.).—Neh. 10:1, 26.

ANANI

(A·naʹni) [cloudy; or, perhaps, a contraction of Ananiah, protected by Jehovah].

A son of Elioenai and a post-captivity descendant of King David.—1 Chron. 3:24.

ANANIAH

(A·na·niʹah) [protected by Jehovah]

1. Father of Maaseiah and grandfather to Azariah, who assisted Nehemiah in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.—Neh. 3:23.

2. A city inhabited by members of the tribe of Benjamin after the return from exile. (Neh. 11:32) It is believed to be the same as Bethany (modern el-ʽAzariyeh) about two miles (3.2 kilometers) E of Jerusalem. The name “Bethany” may mean “house of Ananiah.”—See BETHANY No. 1.

ANANIAS

(An·a·niʹas) [Gr. form of the Heb. name Hananiah, Jehovah has shown favor].

1. A member of the early Christian congregation of Jerusalem. Following Pentecost of 33 C.E. the physical needs of the believers who remained in Jerusalem were cared for by mutual assistance among the Christians. A common fund was set up for this purpose, sustained by contributions representing the price of fields and houses sold by members of the congregation and then voluntarily donated. (Acts 4:34-37) Ananias sold a field and, with his wife’s full knowledge, presented a part of the money obtained, while giving the appearance of turning in the entire sum. The donation of the entire amount would doubtless have qualified him and his wife for support from the common fund and might reasonably have been expected also to gain him a measure of commendation and esteem within the congregation. However, through a special gift of knowledge by the spirit, Peter discerned his pretense exposed him as ‘playing false to the holy spirit and to God,’ and Ananias fell down and expired. When the men who buried him returned in about three hours, they found his wife Sapphira also dead for having tried to keep up the same false pretense.—Acts 5:1-10.

2. A Christian disciple of Damascus. Following the conversion of Saul, Ananias was given a vision in which Jesus gave him Saul’s name and address with instructions to visit him. Though at first hesitant due to knowing of Saul’s fiery persecution of the Christians, Ananias thereafter responded and went to Saul, caused him to recover his sight, informed him of his commission to be God’s witness, and arranged for his baptism. Saul (Paul), in a later defense before opposing Jews, referred to Ananias as a man “reverent according to the Law, well reported on by all the Jews dwelling there [in Damascus].” In view of his being a Christian, such Jewish commendation was indeed a remarkable testimony to his right conduct.—Acts 9:10-18; 22:12-16.

3. Jewish high priest from about 48 to 58 C.E. He was the son of Nebedus and was appointed to office by Herod, king of Chalcis, the brother of Herod Agrippa I. (Antiquities of the Jews, Book XIX, chap. V, par. 1; Book XX, chap. V, par. 2) He was sent to Rome in 52 C.E. to stand trial because of certain difficulties that had arisen between the Jews and the Samaritans, but was acquitted by Claudius Caesar.

In 56 C.E., while presiding at Paul’s trial before the Sanhedrin, Ananias ordered Paul to be struck in the face. Paul reacted to this by predicting that God would repay such wrong action, and referred to Ananias as a “whitewashed wall.” Called to account for this, Paul excused himself as being unaware of the fact that the source of the order to strike him was the high priest and quoted Exodus 22:28 in acknowledgment of his obligation to show due respect in court. Some suggest that Paul’s plea of ignorance was due to Ananias’ position as high priest not being legally certain following his return from Rome, but proof for this is not substantial. It could be simply an additional evidence of poor eyesight on Paul’s part as appears to be indicated in other texts. (See PAUL.) Ananias’ command may have been brief enough and sufficiently charged with emotion to make it difficult for Paul to identify the speaker.—Acts 23:2.

Following the Sanhedrin trial Ananias, accompanied by certain older men and a public orator, traveled to Caesarea to press charges against Paul before Governor Felix. (Acts 24:1) No further mention of him is made in the Scriptural record. Secular history, however, represents him as a haughty and cruel person, whose conduct, both during his high priesthood and in the years following his removal, was marked by greed. Toward the beginning of the Jewish revolt of 66-70 C.E., Ananias was pursued by elements of the Jewish population because of his collaboration with the Roman authorities. Though hiding out in an aqueduct, he was discovered and murdered.

ANATH

(Aʹnath) [answer, i.e., to prayer].

The father of one of Israel’s judges, Shamgar. (Judg. 3:31; 5:6) This was also the name of one of the three principal Canaanite goddesses. She is presented as both the sister and spouse of Baal and a symbol of lustful sex and war. There is no evidence, however, to show that the name of Shamgar’s father was drawn from that of the goddess Anath; although the apostasies of Israel during this period could allow for that.—Compare the case of Gideon at Judges 6:25-27.

ANATHOTH

(Anʹa·thoth) [answers, that is, to prayers].

1. A Benjamite, son of Becher.—1 Chron. 7:8.

2. One of the heads of the people whose descendant, if not himself, attested to and sealed a trustworthy arrangement in the days of Nehemiah, to walk in the path of true worship of Jehovah.—Neh. 9:38; 10:1, 19.

3. A Levite city in the territory of Benjamin. (Josh. 21:17, 18; 1 Chron. 6:60) The name continues in that of the small village of Anata about three miles (4.8 kilometers) N-NE of Jerusalem, while the original site has been identified with Ras el-Kharrubeh about half a mile (.8 kilometer) to the SW of the village. From its position on the hills a view can be had of the Jordan valley and the northern part of the Salt Sea. Anathoth was the home of two of David’s mighty men. (2 Sam. 23:27; 1 Chron. 12:3) It was to Anathoth that Solomon banished Abiathar, thus bringing to an end the line of high priests from the house of Eli. (1 Ki. 2:26) Anathoth was one of the afflicted cities in the line of attack of invading Assyrian armies.—Isa. 10:30.

Jeremiah was from Anathoth, but became a ‘prophet without honor’ among his own people, as they threatened his life for speaking Jehovah’s message of truth. (Jer. 1:1; 11:21-23; 29:27) As a result, Jehovah foretold calamity for the city, and this came in due course of time when Babylon overran the land. (Jer. 11:21-23) Prior to Jerusalem’s fall, Jeremiah exercised his legal rights to purchase his cousin’s tract of land at Anathoth as a sign that there would be a restoration from exile. (Jer. 32:7-9) A hundred and twenty-eight men of Anathoth were among the first band of those returning from exile with Zerubbabel; and Anathoth is included among the towns that were resettled, thus fulfilling Jeremiah’s prophecy.—Ezra 2:23; Neh. 7:27; 11:32.

ANATHOTHITE

(Anʹa·thoth·ite).

An inhabitant of Anathoth, a priestly city in the territory of Benjamin.—2 Sam. 23:27; 1 Chron. 11:28; 12:3; 27:12.

ANCHOR

See SHIP.

ANCIENT OF DAYS

A translation of the Aramaic expression ʽat·tiqʹ yoh·minʹ, which literally means “one advanced or aged in days.” This title of Jehovah appears only at Daniel 7:9, 13, and 22, and alternates with the title “Supreme One” (verses 18, 22, 25, 27). The scene is a courtroom where the Ancient of Days