Jeremiah 28:11

And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith 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. SO WILL I BREAK THE YOKE OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR ... FROM THE NECK OF ALL NATIONS - opposed to ....

We must also notice how craftily this impostor insinuated himself; for he seemed to imitate the true prophets of God, for he set a sign before the people, and then added a doctrine. The Papists have their empty signs, but they only delight the eyes, while yet they have no care nor concern for the ears. But Hananiah came still nearer to God’s servants, so that he might deceive even those who were not stupid. What, indeed, could we desire more in this man than that he should set forth a sign? He also added the name of God and declared what was his purpose, _in this manner will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar: _nor did he speak in his own name, but assumed the person of God, _Thus saith Jehovah, _I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar. But as we have elsewhere said, this preposterous imitation of the devil ought not to disturb pious minds; for God ever supplies his own people with the s...

10-17 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....

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 HANANIAH SPOKE IN THE PRESENCE OF ALL THE PEOPLE,.... Explaining to them his meaning, in taking the yoke, and breaking it: SAYING, THUS SAITH THE LORD; wickedly making use of the Lord's name, to give countenance to his words and actions: 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; the time he had fixed for the bringing back of the vessels of the sanctuary, Jeremiah 28:3; AND THE PROPHET JEREMIAH WENT HIS WAY; showing thereby his dissent from him, and his dislike and detestation of his lies and blasphemies; patiently bearing his affronts and insolence; and prudently withdrawing to prevent riots and tumults; returning no answer till he had received one from the Lord himself, which he quickly had....

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

WENT HIS WAY. Having no further word from Jehovah....

_And the prophet … went his way_ Co., maintaining that Jeremiah could not under the circumstances have been silent, rejects these words but Du. rightly pleads for their retention as entirely consonant with the dignity and nobility of Jeremiah's character. Co. considers them as inserted by a later hand and suggested by "go and tell" of Jeremiah 28:13....

3. _The reaction of Hananiah_ (Jeremiah 28:10-11) TRANSLATION (10) Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from upon the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and smashed it. (11) And Hananiah said before all the people, Thus says the LORD: Like this I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon within two years from upon the neck of all the nations. Then Jeremiah the prophet went on his way. COMMENTS Hananiah, instead of any rejoinder to Jeremiah, resorts to an act of violence which will impress the multitude. Apparently he could not answer the prophet's quiet and convincing argument. Violence grows in inverse proportion to the number of reasonable arguments which can be offered to bolster one's position. The air was tense already. Those assembled in the Temple listened eagerly as the two prophets exchanged their verbal blows. Probably no on