Jeremiah 28:2

Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. THUS SPEAKETH THE LORD ... I HAVE BROKEN THE YOKE - I have determined to break; referring to Jeremiah's prophecy (Jeremiah 27:2; )....

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....

Verse Jeremiah 28:2. _THUS SPEAKETH THE LORD_] What awful impudence! when he knew in his conscience that God had given him no such commission....

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

THUS SPEAKETH THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL,.... Using the language of the true prophets, and describing the Lord just in the same manner they do, when coming from him, and speaking in his name: a bold and daring action, when he knew the Lord had not sent him, nor had said any such thing to him: he next relates with all assurance, SAYING, I HAVE BROKEN THE YOKE OF THE KING OF BABYLON; which he had put upon the neck of the king of Judah; signifying that he should be no more subject to him; that is, he had determined to do it, and would do it, in a very short time....

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

THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL. See note on Jeremiah 7:3. I HAVE BROKEN. This was proved to be. false promise....

E. A Warning to the False prophets Jeremiah 28:1-17 Alongside of the genuine prophet in ancient Israel the counterfeit prophet arose. The appearance of such fakes had been anticipated in the law of Moses and provisions were mode in the Book of Deuteronomy (Jeremiah 18:22; Jeremiah 13:1-3) for ascertaining whether or not a man was a true prophet of the Lord. In chapter 26 false prophets were named among the fanatic adversaries who sought the life of Jeremiah. Chapter 27 relates the continued opposition of these men during the reign of Zedekiah. Chapter 28 describes dramatic confrontation between Jeremiah and Hananiah, one of the false prophets. The account can be broken down into four paragraphs: (1) The

1-11. Opposition of Hananiah and the false prophets....