Why, he would never have even thought of doing this great work, if it had not been for Hanani; and he felt he could thoroughly trust him, and rely upon him entirely.
His other choice was Hananiah, the ruler of the palace or the fort, which was a tower, standing in the temple courts on the spot on which, in Roman days, stood the Tower of Antonia.

Nehemiah tells us exactly why he made choice of the man Hananiah.
'He was a faithful man, and feared God above many.' He was a faithful man, thoroughly trustworthy and reliable.

He feared God above many, and therefore Nehemiah knew that he would be kept safe and free from sin.

'So did not I,' he had said of himself, 'because of the fear of God; that fear held me back from sin,' and he felt sure it would be the same with Hananiah.

He feared God, and therefore he could be depended upon.
These two rulers, Hanani and Hananiah, planned out the defence of the city.