Matthew Poole and continuators on Nehemiah 7:2

2 That I gave my brother Hanani , and Hananiah the ruler of the palace , charge over Jerusalem : (for he was a faithful man , and feared God above many .)

Of whom see ch. 1. 1, 2.

i. e. Of Nehemiah's Court, justly so called, because he lived in great splendor, and like a Vice-Roy, though it was wholly at his own charge.

To preserve its peace and safety, and to take particular care of the shutting the Gates of the City.

To wit, Hananiah last mentioned: for it was needless to say any thing in commendation of Hanani, who had shewn his Piety and Zeal for God and his Country, in taking a tedious journey from Ierusalem to Shushan, to inform Nehemiah of the sad Estate of Ierusalem, and to implore his helping hand to relieve it, chap. 1.

He chose not Magistrates and Officers out of any partial or carnal respects to his own Kindred, or Acquaintance, or Favourites, but from true Piety and Prudence, such as were fittest for, and would be most faithful in their Employments.

This is added as the ground and reason, both why he was faithful, and why Nehemiah put such Trust and Confidence in him, because he knew that the fear of God would keep him from yielding to those temptations to perfidiousness which he was likely to meet with when Nehemiah was gone, and against which a man destitute of Gods fear hath no sufficient sence.

More than most men did, or, above the common pitch of piety.