Nehemiah 7:2

That I gave my brother Hanani,.... Who first brought him the melancholy account of the state of Jerusalem, Ne 1:2, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace; the king's palace, in which the viceroy of the

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. I gave my brother ... charge over Jerusalem.

Hanani; of whom see . 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.

Nehemiah 7:2 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.Ver. 2. That I gave my brother Hanani] Of whom see Nehemiah 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, Aιεναριστευειν, καιυπειροχονεμμεναιαλλων, 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.

VII.(1-4) Measures were taken for the security of the city, now made a complete fortress. The comparative thinness of the population taxed the governor’s resources, and the result appears at a later stage. (1) Were appointed.—Placed in charge, probably over all the walls. This was an extraordinary provision, to be explained by the fact that these organised bodies formed a large proportion of the inhabitants. The Levites had usually guarded only the Temple. (2) Hanani.—Who probably had returned from Susa with his brother. Hananiah the ruler of the palace.—Commander of the fortress, as in Nehemiah 2:8. He was in the immediate service of the Persian king, but his chief recommendation was his piety, which distinguished him from too many of the other rulers. (3) Until the sun be hot.—General directions were given that the gates should not be thrown open so early as sunrise; they were to be opened and barred again while the guard was present; and the inhabitants were to be divided for night-watches, part on the walls and part before their own houses. (4) Large and great.—Literally, broad on both sides, with large unoccupied spaces. The houses were not builded.—In sufficient numbers to provide the requisite population for the city of God. The emphasis is on the fact that the people were few.

Verse 2. My brother Hanani] This was the person who gave Nehemiah the account of the desolate state of the Jews, Ne 1:2. He is now made ruler of Jerusalem, probably because Nehemiah was about to return to the Persian court. And he found this man to be one in whom he could trust: 1. Because he was a faithful man - one who had a proper belief in God, his government, and his protection; and being devoted to the interests of his people, would be faithful in the discharge of his office. 2. Because he feared God above many - was the most religious person in the congregation; would govern according to the laws; would take care of the interests of pure religion; would not oppress, take bribes, nor abuse his authority; but act in all things as one who had the fear of God continually before his eyes. These are the proper qualifications of a governor.

2. my brother Hanani] cf. Nehemiah 1:2. Hananiah the ruler of the palace] R.V. Hananiah the governor of the castle. On the castle or ‘Bira’ see Nehemiah 2:8. The ‘governor of the castle’ would be an official of great importance, being probably in command of troops for the purpose of keeping order in the city. ‘He’ refers to Hananiah. Possibly Nehemiah’s appointment of two officers to the command of the city corresponds with the mention of the two men in Nehemiah 3:9; Nehemiah 3:12, who were ‘rulers of half the district of Jerusalem.’ a faithful man, and feared God] cf. Exodus 18:21, ‘able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating unjust gain.’ The Hebrew is noticeable; not absolutely ‘a man of truth,’ but ‘such as only a man of truth is.’ above many] i.e. more than most. LXX. παρὰπολλούς. Vulg. ‘plus cζteris.’ The phrase which only occurs here in the O.T. has a very lifelike ring.

My brother Hanani - See Nehemiah 1:2. The ruler of the palace - Or, “the governor of the fortress.” See the marginal reference note. He - i. e. Hananiah.

2. My brother Hanani — Who had brought word to Nehemiah in Persia of the distressed state of Jerusalem. Nehemiah 1:2-3.