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The Charge of the City
v. 1. Now it came to pass, when the wail was built and I had set up the doors, completing everything as it had been planned, and the porters and the singers and the Levite. were appointed, the Levites who had charge of the gates and those who were entrusted with the liturgical part of the Temple service being distinguished from those who assisted the priests in the sacrificial worship, as David had ordered, 1Ch_9:17-27; 1Ch_26:1-19,
v. 2. that I gave my brother Hansni, and Rananiah, the ruler of the palace, this office being held after the end of the monarchy, Cf 2Ki_18:37; 2Ch_26:21, in the form of prime minister to the governor, charge over Jerusalem; for he was a faithful man and feared God above many, his faithfulness being an outflow of his fear of God, a tact which caused Nehemiah to place such confidence in him, for he was sure that this fact would keep Hananiah from the temptations to treachery and unfaithfulness which were likely to come to him.
v. 3. And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot, the custom being to open them at sunrise, when the enemies might still take advantage of the shadows to attempt an attack; and while they stand by, that is, the members of the guard, ready to defend the gates, let them shut the doors and bar them, this being done at sunset; and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, men living throughout the city, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house, mounting guard, as sentinel, near his own property, in order to prevent any gathering of people that may have entered into the city for the purpose of starting a riot.
v. 4. Now, the city was large and great, but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded, that is, its area was very great in proportion to its population, which explains the necessity of the measures adopted by Nehemiah before returning to Shushan, as he had promised the Persian king, Neh_2:6. Nehemiah took every precaution to insure the safety of the city during his absence. The Church of Christ is also the city of God and His holy habitation. The ministers of the Church therefore must be diligent in their office as watchmen and defenders of Zion, lest the enemies take advantage of some oversight in its defense.