neighbourhood of Hebron (Genesis 23:2; Joshua 15:13). In the days of
Abraham (Genesis 14:5, 6) they inhabited the region afterwards known as
Edom and Moab, east of the Jordan. They were probably a remnant of the
original inhabitants of Palestine before the Canaanites, a Cushite tribe from
Babel, and of the same race as the Phoenicians and the Egyptian shepherd
kings. Their formidable warlike appearance, as described by the spies sent
to search the land, filled the Israelites with terror. They seem to have
identified them with the Nephilim, the “giants” (Genesis 6:4; Numbers
13:33) of the antediluvian age. There were various tribes of Anakim
(Joshua 15:14). Joshua finally expelled them from the land, except a
remnant that found a refuge in the cities of Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod
(Joshua 11:22). The Philistine giants whom David encountered (2 Samuel
21:15-22) were descendants of the Anakim. (See GIANTS.)
- ANAMIM the name of an Egyptian tribe descended from Mizraim
(Genesis 10:13; 1 Chronicles 1:11). - ANAMMELECH one of the gods worshipped by the people of
Sepharvaim, who colonized Samaria (2 Kings 17:31). The name means
“Anu is king.” It was a female deity representing the moon, as
Adrammelech (q.v.) was the male representing the sun. - ANAN cloud, one of the Israelites who sealed the covenant after the
return from Babylon (Nehemiah 10:26). - ANANIAH protected by Jehovah, the name of a town in the tribe of
Benjamin between Nob and Hazor (Nehemiah 11:32). It is probably the
modern Beit Hanina, a small village 3 miles north of Jerusalem. - ANANIAS a common Jewish name, the same as Hananiah. (1.) One of the
members of the church at Jerusalem, who conspired with his wife Sapphira
to deceive the brethren, and who fell down and immediately expired after
he had uttered the falsehood (Acts 5:5). By common agreement the
members of the early Christian community devoted their property to the
work of furthering the gospel and of assisting the poor and needy. The
proceeds of the possessions they sold were placed at the disposal of the
apostles (Acts 4:36, 37). Ananias might have kept his property had he so
chosen; but he professed agreement with the brethren in the common
purpose, and had of his own accord devoted it all, as he said, to these
sacred ends. Yet he retained a part of it for his own ends, and thus lied in
declaring that he had given it all. “The offence of Ananias and Sapphira