Jeremiah28
New King James Version
1And it happened in the same year, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, who was from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the Lord in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
2“Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
3Within two full years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lord’s house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon.
4And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah who went to Babylon,’ says the Lord, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’ ”
5Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and in the presence of all the people who stood in the house of the Lord,
6and the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! The Lord do so; the Lord perform your words which you have prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the Lord’s house and all who were carried away captive, from Babylon to this place.
7Nevertheless hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people:
8The prophets who have been before me and before you of old prophesied against many countries and great kingdoms—of war and disaster and pestilence.
9As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the Lord has truly sent.”
10Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke off the prophet Jeremiah’s neck and broke it.
11And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Even so I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years.’ ” And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.
12Now the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, after Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,
13“Go and tell Hananiah, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “You have broken the yokes of wood, but you have made in their place yokes of iron.”
14For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him. I have given him the beasts of the field also.” ’ ”
15Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Hear now, Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie.
16Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will cast you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have taught rebellion against the Lord.’ ”
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).