X b 1-4. Hananiah.
c 5-9. Jeremiah.
b 10,11. Hananiah.
c Jeremiah.
485 B.C.
Jeremiah 28)
1 And it came to pass the same year (as 27:12, when Jeremiah spoke to Zedekiah; not 27:1, when he received the message which was to be delivered. The same year in which Jeremiah had counseled Zedekiah not to hearken to the false prophets [27:14]), in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah (a false prophet) the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon (a city of the priests [Josh. 21:17]. Hananiah was therefore probably a priest as Jeremiah was. Now el Jib, north of Jerusalem), spoke to me in the house (cp. 26:2) 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. (This was proved to be a false statement.)
3 Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD'S house, that Nebuchadnezzar (see 27:6) king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon:
4 And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, says the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.' "
5 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the LORD,
6 Even the prophet Jeremiah said, "Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform your words which you hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the LORD'S house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place.
7 Nevertheless hear you now this word that I speak in your ears, and in the ears of all the people;
8 The prophets that have been before me and before you of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of calamity, and of pestilence.
9 The prophet which prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass (According to the test laid down in Deut. 18:21,22), then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD has truly sent him."
10 Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke (see 27:2. Made of wood [v.12]) from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and broke it.
11 And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, "Thus says the LORD; 'Even so will I 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. (Having no further word from Yahaveh.)
12 Then (evidently shortly after this) the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off 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 shall make instead of them yokes of iron. (These are never used. No stronger symbol could have been given.)
14 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; 'I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck (see Deut. 28:48) 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.' ' ' "
15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah to Hananiah the prophet, "Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD has not sent you (see Deut. 18:21,22); but you make this people to confide in a lie.
16 Therefore thus says the LORD; 'Behold, I will cast you from off the face of the ground (or soil): this year you shall die (according to Deut. 18:20), because you have spoken rebellion against the LORD.' " (Zedekiah had taken an oath of allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar [2 Kings 24:17. 2 Chron. 36:13. Ezek. 17:15,18]. So it was a double rebellion.)
17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month. (I.e. 2 months after, instead of "2 years" [v.3].)