Hashabnah was a Levite or leader mentioned in the book of Nehemiah in connection with the renewal of the covenant after returning from exile in Babylon. He was among those who sealed the covenant with God and participated in the public confession and praise. His name appears several times in Nehemiah, possibly referring to more than one person with the same name.
Key events
Participation in Public Prayer and Confession
Hashabnah was among the Levites who cried out with a loud voice to the Lord their God during a public service of repentance and prayer after the people had heard the words of the law.
5Then the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—said: "Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting." "Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above every blessing and praise.
During the great prayer in Nehemiah 9, the Levites, including Hashabnah, led the people in a long prayer that reviewed God's faithfulness throughout Israel's history.
5Then the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—said: "Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting." "Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above every blessing and praise.
6You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, the highest heavens and all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and everything in them. You give life to them all, and the host of heaven bows down before you.
8You found his heart faithful before you, and you made a covenant with him to give him the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites—to give it to his descendants. And you have kept your word, for you are righteous.
By sealing the covenant, Hashabnah and the others committed themselves to keeping God's commands, statutes, and laws, including the Sabbath commandment and the temple tax.
29The rest of the people—the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands in order to follow the Law of God, together with their wives, their sons, and their daughters, all who had the knowledge to understand—
30joined with their brothers, the nobles, and bound themselves with a curse and an oath to walk in the Law of God, given through Moses the servant of God, and to keep and carry out all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, with his judgments and his statutes:
Hashabnah is also mentioned in connection with the organization of the Levites' service in rebuilt Jerusalem, where he played a leading role among the Levites.
22The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, one of the descendants of Asaph, the singers who served in the work of the house of God.