Hananiah the False Prophet
Jer 28:1 In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth year, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, said to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and all the people:
Jer 28:2 “This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.
Jer 28:3 Within two years I will bring back to this place all the articles of the LORD’s house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed from here and took to Babylon.
Jer 28:4 I will also bring back to this place Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and all the other exiles from Judah who went to Babylon,’ declares the LORD, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.'”
Jer 28:5 Then the prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah before the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the LORD.
Jer 28:6 He said, “Amen! May the LORD do so! May the LORD fulfill the words you have prophesied by bringing the articles of the LORD’s house and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon.
Jer 28:7 Nevertheless, listen to what I have to say in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people:
Jer 28:8 From early times the prophets who preceded you and me have prophesied war, disaster and plague against many countries and great kingdoms.
Jer 28:9 But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the LORD only if his prediction comes true.”
Jer 28:10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it,
Jer 28:11 and he said before all the people, “This is what the LORD says: ‘In the same way I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon off the neck of all the nations within two years.'” At this, the prophet Jeremiah went on his way.
Jer 28:12 After the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:
Jer 28:13 “Go and tell Hananiah, ‘This is what the LORD says: You have broken a wooden yoke, but in its place you will get a yoke of iron.
Jer 28:14 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will put an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I will even give him control over the wild animals.'”
Jer 28:15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! The LORD has not sent you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies.
Jer 28:16 Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.'”
Jer 28:17 In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died.
1 Hananiah prophesied falsely the return of the vessels, and of Jeconiah. 5 Jeremiah, wishing it to be true, showed that the event will declare who are true prophets. 10 Hananiah breaks Jeremiah’s yoke. 12 Jeremiah tells of an iron yoke, 15 and foretell Hananiah’s death.
Hananiah the False Prophet
Jer 28:1 In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth year, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, said to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and all the people:
Approximately 593 b.c.
Hananiah. This man seems to have been one of Jeremiah’s most prominent opponents and one of the leaders of the resistance party that was endeavouring to form an alliance with the neighbouring nations against Babylon (see ch. 27).
Like Anathoth, this was one of the cities of priests (see Joshua 21:13, 17, 18). This may indicate that Hananiah, like Jeremiah, was a priest as well as a “prophet.” At one time “the tabernacle of the Lord” was at Gibeon (1 Kings 3:4; 1 Chron. 16:39; 2 Chron. 1:3). Gibeon, the modern ej–Jîb, was 51/4 mi. (8.4 km.) northwest of Jerusalem.
Jer 28:2 “This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.
The reference is undoubtedly to the “yoke” mentioned by the true prophet (ch. 27:2). Hananiah presumed to contradict the inspired message of Jeremiah.
Jer 28:3 Within two years I will bring back to this place all the articles of the LORD’s house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed from here and took to Babylon.
It is possible that the alliance between Judah and the neighbouring nations against Nebuchadnezzar (see ch. 27:1–8) was taking shape and that Hananiah did not doubt the certainty of its success.
Presumptuously Hananiah predicts a great shortening of the period of time that Jeremiah said “the vessels of the Lord’s house” would remain in Babylon (see ch. 27:22).
Jer 28:4 I will also bring back to this place Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and all the other exiles from Judah who went to Babylon,’ declares the LORD, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.'”
Jehoiachin was still regarded by many as the rightful king whom they expected to see return and be restored to his throne. This outcome would directly contradict Jeremiah’s prophecy that Jehoiachin would not return to Judah but would die in a foreign country (ch. 22:24–26).
Jer 28:6 He said, “Amen! May the LORD do so! May the LORD fulfill the words you have prophesied by bringing the articles of the LORD’s house and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon.
The prophet may have meant, “I wish that were the case; it would be wonderful if that were true.” Some, however, hold that Jeremiah uttered these words in biting irony, the prophet seemingly putting himself in accord with the prediction of Hananiah only the more emphatically to reveal its falsity.
Jer 28:7 Nevertheless, listen to what I have to say in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people:
Jer 28:9 But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the LORD only if his prediction comes true.”
To gain favor the false prophet satisfied and deceived the people with promises of an assured prosperity, in opposition to the predictions of “evil, and of pestilence” (see v. 8) given by the true prophet (see on ch. 14:13). Jeremiah knew he could rest his case on the issue of the fulfillment or nonfulfillment of his prophecies (see Deut. 18:20–22).
Jer 28:10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it,
This experience of the false prophet Hananiah and the true prophet Jeremiah parallels that of Zedekiah and Micaiah (1 Kings 22:8–25). By this presumptuous act of force Hananiah undoubtedly wished to show the people that he would not permit them to be outraged by this odious symbol of servitude. His breaking of the yoke was meant to be a guarantee that the Babylonian power would be destroyed.
Jer 28:11 and he said before all the people, “This is what the LORD says: ‘In the same way I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon off the neck of all the nations within two years.'” At this, the prophet Jeremiah went on his way.
The true prophet did not resist or retaliate against Hananiah’s use of physical force.
Jer 28:12 After the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:
It may be that this “word” did not come immediately after the experience of v. 11.
Jer 28:13 “Go and tell Hananiah, ‘This is what the LORD says: You have broken a wooden yoke, but in its place you will get a yoke of iron.
Yoke of iron. See Deut. 28:48. As a rebuke to all attempts to resist Nebuchadnezzar as His chosen “servant” to punish His people (see Jer. 25:9), God persists in using the figure of the yoke, but this time with a stronger, more severe force, that of “iron,” thus warning the apostates that any resistance would only result in more bitter and more painful bondage.
Jer 28:14 For 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.” ‘ ”
Jer 28:16 Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.'”
“This very year,” extending into “the seventh month” (v. 17), would allow time for Hananiah to repent or for the people to detect his false claims. His death parallels the fate of Ananias and of Elymas (see Acts 5:4, 5; 13:6–11).
Jer 28:17 In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died.
The speedy fulfilment of the prophet’s prediction should have impressed on the people the genuineness of Jeremiah’s calling, but doubtless some refused to accept even this as an evidence in his favour.