Jeremiah 28:1

And it came to pass the same year, in 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, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying, IN THE BEGINNING OF THE REIGN OF ZEDEKIAH. The Jews often divided any period into two halves, the beginning and the end. Since Zedekiah reigned 11 years, the 4th year would be called the beginning of his reign, especially as during the first 3 years affairs were in such a disturbed state that he had little power or dignity, being a tributary; but in the 4th year he became strong in power. HANANIAH. Another of this name was one of the three godly youths who braved Nebuchadnezzar's wrath, in the fear of God (Daniel 1:6;...

The Prophet relates here with what haughtiness, and even fury, the false prophet Hananiah came forward to deceive the people and to proclaim his trumperies, when yet he must have been conscious of his own wickedness. (192) It hence clearly appears how great must be the madness of those who, being blinded by God, are carried away by a satanic impulse. The circumstances of the case especially shew how great a contempt of God was manifested by this impostor; for he came into the Temple, the priests were present, the people were there, and there before his eyes he had the sanctuary and the ark of the covenant; and we know that the ark of the covenant is everywhere represented as having the presence of God; for God was by that symbol in a manner visible, when he made evident the presence of his power and favor in the Temple. As Hananiah then stood before God’s eyes, how great must have been h...

1-9 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....

CHAPTER XXVIII _One of those pretended prophets spoken of on the preceding_ _chapter, having contrasted and opposed Jeremiah, receives an_ _awful declaration that, as a proof to the people of his having_ _spoken without commission, he should die in the then current_ _year; which accordingly came to pass its the seventh month_, 1-17. NOTES ON CHAP. XXVIII Verse Jeremiah 28:1. _AND IT CAME TO PASS THE SAME YEAR - THE FIFTH MONTH_] Which commenced with the first new moon of _August_, according to our calendar. This verse gives the _precise date_ of t

IN THE BEGINNING ... ZEDEKIAH - Probably a gloss put into the margin to explain “the same year,” from where it has crept into the text. GIBEON - A city of priests Joshua 21:17. Hananiah was probably a priest as well as a prophet. He chose either a Sabbath or a new moon, that he might confront Jeremiah not only in the presence of the priests, but also of all the people. He used Jeremiah 28:2 the solemn formula which claims direct inspiration....

EXPOSITION Hananiah's false prophecy; his reprimand from Jeremiah; and his fate. The preciseness of the date in verse 1 is to emphasize the supernatural character of Jeremiah's prediction. The latter was uttered in the fifth month of the fourth year of Zedekiah, and Hananiah died in the seventh month of the same year (verse 17). JEREMIAH 28:1 IN THE BEGINNING OF THE REIGN OF ZEDEKIAH. It seems strange that the fourth year of a reign which only lasted eleven years in all should be called "the beginning. Is it not probable that the clause was interpolated here by a later copyist on account of Jeremiah 27:1, where at present a similar clause (see note) is found? Originally placed in the margin as a gloss upon the words "the same year," it would ve

AND IT CAME TO PASS THE SAME YEAR,.... That the prophet was bid to make yokes and bonds, and send them to the neighbouring kings, whose ambassadors were in Zedekiah's court; and when he spoke the things related in the preceding chapter to Zedekiah, the priests, and people: IN THE BEGINNING THE REIGN OF ZEDEKIAH KING OF JUDAH; perhaps in the first year of his reign: IN THE FOURTH YEAR, [AND] IN THE FIFTH MONTH; not in the fourth year of Zedekiah's reign, though the Septuagint and A table versions so render it; since his reign was but eleven years in all, and therefore the fourth could not be called with so much propriety the beginning of his reign: though, according to Jarchi, it was the fourth of Zedekiah's reign, the same year in which he paid a visit to the king of Babylon, Jeremiah 51:59; and was not only confirmed in his kingdom by

FIFTH MONTH That is, August....

CHAPTER 28 _ 1. Hananiah, the false prophet (Jeremiah 28:1) _ 2. The judgment of Hananiah (Jeremiah 28:12) Jeremiah 28:1. One of these lying prophets became very bold, and declared that he had a message from the Lord that the yoke of the Babylonian king was to be broken, and that within two years the temple vessels would be brought back. Jeremiah said “Amen”--let it be so! But he knew it could not be so, for the Lord had spoken to him; he gives a test. Then Hananiah became still more arrogant. Jeremiah had about his neck the yoke (Jeremiah 27:2). Hananiah took it off and broke it and declared again

JEREMIAH 28. THE PROPHECY AND FATE OF HANANIAH. Whilst Jeremiah still wears the symbolic yoke (Jeremiah 27:2), his testimony concerning it is opposed by another prophet, Hananiah of Gibeon (5 m. NW. of Jerusalem), who declares that the yoke shall be broken, the Temple vessels, the king, and the exiles brought back, within two years (Jeremiah 28:1). Jeremiah wishes it might be true, but points out the predominant pessimism of prophecy hitherto, which throws the onus of proof on the event itself, in case of an exceptional prophecy of peace (Jeremiah 28:5; _cf._ Deuteronomy 18:21 f.). Hananiah reasserts his prophecy, con