Nehemiah 7:2 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Hanani; of whom see Nehemiah 1:2. The ruler of the palace, i.e. of Nehemiah's court; justly so called, because he lived in great splendour, and like a viceroy, though it was wholly at his own charge. Charge over Jerusalem, to preserve its peace and safety, and to take particular care of the shutting the gates of the city. He was a faithful man, to wit, Hananiah last mentioned; for it was needless to say any thing in commendation of Hanani, who had shown his piety and zeal for God and his country, in taking a tedious journey from Jerusalem to Shushan, to inform Nehemiah of the sad estate of Jerusalem, and to implore his helping hand to relieve it, Ne 1. A faithful man; 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. And feared God: 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 God's fear hath no sufficient fence. Above many; more than most men did; or, above the common pitch of piety.