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.
Ver. 2. That I gave my brother Hanani] Of whom see Neh 1:2 Ezra 10:20 .
And Hananiah the ruler of the palace] The second person next to the governor; commanding in his name within his court.
Charge over Jerusalem] Thus he that is faithful in a little shall be made master of much, Matthew 25:31 .
For he was a faithful man] Heb. A man of truth, faithfulness, or firnmess; a sure man, and such as one might safely confide in.
And feared God] No wonder therefore though faithful to men. See Nehemiah 5:15. God's holy fear is the ground of all goodness and fidelity. Hence Jethro, in his well-qualified ruler, places the fear of God in the midst of the other graces, as the heart in the body, for conveying life to all the parts, or as a dram of musk, perfuming the whole box of ointment, Exodus 18:21. Most sure it is, that nothing maketh a man so good a patriot as the true fear of God. On the other side, Pietate sublata fides tollitur, take away piety, and fidelity is gone; as is to be seen in the unrighteous judge, Luke 18:2, and as Constantius Chlorus, father of Constantine the Great, did well experience in his counsellors and courtiers; whence that famous maxim of his recorded by Eusebius, He cannot be faithful to me that is unfaithful to God, religion being the foundation of all true fidelity and loyalty to king and country. Hence that close connection, Fear God, honour the king, 1 Peter 2:17. And hence that saying of Bernard, If all the world should conspire to make me complot against my prince, yet I would fear God, and honour the king.
Above many] This is a singular praise, and by every man to be sought after - it was Cicero's posy and practice,
Aιεν αριστευειν, και υπειροχον εμμεναι αλλων ,
to be the best at every good thing, to excel and exceed others, - to be eminent and exemplary, taller than the rest by the head and shoulders, full of all goodness, filled with all knowledge, Romans 15:14, able and active in every good word and work. That is a low and unworthy strain in some, to labour after no more grace than will keep life and soul together, that is, soul and hell asunder. God would have his people to be discontentedly contented with the measures they have received, and to be still adding, 2 Peter 1:5, and advancing, Philippians 3:14, aspiring to perfection, till they "come unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ," Ephesians 4:13 .