Jeremiah28
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azzur, the prophet, who was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of Jehovah, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
2Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
3Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of Jehovah’s house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried to Babylon:
4and I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went to Babylon, saith Jehovah; for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.
5Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of Jehovah,
6even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: Jehovah do so; Jehovah perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of Jehovah’s house, and all them of the captivity, from Babylon unto this place.
7Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people:
8The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence.
9The prophet that prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that Jehovah hath truly sent him.
10Then Hananiah the prophet took the bar from off the prophet Jeremiah’s neck, and brake it.
11And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith Jehovah: Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon within two full years from off the neck of all the nations. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.
12Then the word of Jehovah came unto Jeremiah, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the bar from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,
13Go, and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith Jehovah: Thou hast broken the bars of wood; but thou hast made in their stead bars of iron.
14For thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also.
15Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah: Jehovah hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.
16Therefore thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will send thee away from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast spoken rebellion against Jehovah.
17So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Jeremiah 28.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: A false prophet opposes Jeremiah. (1-9). The false prophet warned of his approaching death. (10-17).
vv1-9
Hananiah spoke a false prophecy. Here is not a word of good counsel urging the Jews to repent and return to God. He promises temporal mercies, in God's name, but makes no mention of the spiritual mercies which God always promised with earthly blessings. This was not the first time Jeremiah had prayed for the people, though he prophesied against them. He appeals to the event, to prove Hananiah's falsehood. The prophet who spake only of peace and prosperity, without adding that they must not by wilful sin stop God's favours, will be proved a false prophet. Those who do not declare the alarming as well as the encouraging parts of God's word, and call men to repentance, and faith, and holiness, tread in the steps of the false prophets. The gospel of Christ encourages men to do works meet for repentance, but gives no encouragement to continue in sin.
vv10-17
Hananiah is sentenced to die, and Jeremiah, when he has received direction from God, boldly tells him so; but not before he received that commission. Those have much to answer for, who tell sinners that they shall have peace, though they harden their hearts in contempt of God's word. The servant of God must be gentle to all men. He must give up even his right, and leave the Lord to plead his cause. Every attempt of ungodly men to make vain the purposes of God, will add to their miseries.
Key Words
שָׁנֶה: a year (as a revolution of time)
רֵאשִׁית: the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a firstfruit)
מַמְלָכָה: dominion, i.e. (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm)
צִדְקִיָּה: Tsidkijah, the name of six Israelites
מֶלֶךְ: a king
יְהוּדָה: Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
חֲמִישִׁי: fifth; also a fifth
חֹדֶשׁ: the new moon; by implication, a month
רְבִיעִי: fourth; also (fractionally) a fourth
חֲנַנְיָה: Chananjah, the name of thirteen Israelites
Cross References
Jeremiah 28God's designated test for validating a prophet's word through the historical fulfillment of their prediction.
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Moses warned of a 'yoke of iron' for disobedience, directly echoed by Jeremiah's iron yokes.
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Directly connects Hananiah's opposition to Jeremiah's recent command to serve Babylon.
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Benaiah's 'Amen' parallels Jeremiah's wish that Hananiah's peaceful prophecy were actually true.
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Confirms God's sovereign gift of both humanity and the beasts of the field to Nebuchadnezzar.
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Parallel condemnation of Shemaiah for causing the people to trust in a lie.
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Parallels the sin of false prophets who strengthen the wicked by promising life falsely.
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Context of the temple vessels taken by Nebuchadnezzar during Jehoiachin's exile.
Zedekiah's symbolic horns of iron parallel Hananiah's physical manipulation of the yoke.
Repeats the exact wording of God giving the beasts of the field to Nebuchadnezzar.
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Shemaiah's judgment of death and lack of offspring mirrors Hananiah's swift execution.
Physical assault of a true prophet by a false prophet (Zedekiah striking Micaiah).