Jeremiah 28:5

Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto 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, THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. The epithet, "the prophet," is prefixed to "Jeremiah" throughout this chapter, to correspond to the same epithet before "Hananiah;" except , where "the prophet" has been inserted in the English version. The rival claims of the true and the false prophet are thus put in the more prominent contrast....

I have shortly reminded you of the design of the Prophet; for it was to be feared that the people would not hear him, or at least that they would not well receive him, as he had threatened them and handled them roughly and severely. We know that men ever seek to be flattered; hence adulations are ever delightfully received. Such is the pride of men, that they cannot bear to be called to an account for what they have done; and _they _become also indignant, when they see their crimes and vices brought to light; besides, they are so delicate and tender, that they avoid as much as they can all adverse rumors; and if any fear assails them, they instantly resist. Now Jeremiah had been furnished with a twofold message, to expose the vices of the people, to shew that the Jews were unworthy to inherit the land, as they were covenant-breakers and despisers of God and of his Law; and then, as they...

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....

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

THEN THE PROPHET JEREMIAH SAID UNTO THE PROPHET HANANIAH,.... The false prophet, as he is called by the Targum, Syriac, and Arabic versions: IN THE PRESENCE OF THE PRIESTS, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT STOOD IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD; waiting and worshipping in the temple; and said boldly and before them all, in answer to Hananiah's prophecy, what follows....

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

JEREMIAH. Spelled here, and in this chapter only (except Jeremiah 27:1.Ezra 1:1.Daniel 9:2; Daniel 9:2), in an abbreviated form, " _Yirmeyah"_ instead of " _Yirmeyahu_ ", as elsewhere. This may be to bring the true prophet into stronger contrast with the false " _Hananeyah"._...

2. _The response of Jeremiah_ (Jeremiah 28:5-9) TRANSLATION (5) Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto Hananiah the prophet in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the LORD, (6) and Jeremiah the prophet said, Amen! Thus may the LORD do! May the Lord establish your words which you have prophesied, to return the vessels of the house of the LORD and all the captives from Babylon unto this place. (7) But hear please this word which I am about to speak in your presence and in the presence of all the people. (8) The prophets who were before me and before you from ancient times prophesied against many lands and great kingdoms of war and famine and pestilence. (9) The prophet who prophesies of peace can be recognized as a prophet truly sent of the LORD only when the word of that prophet comes to pass. COMMENTS It is

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