Jeremiah 28:9

The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him. THE PROPHET WHICH PROPHESIETH OF PEACE. Hananiah had given no warning as to the need of conversion, but had foretold prosperity unconditionally. Jeremiah does not say that all are true prophets who foretell truths in any instance (which Deuteronomy 13:1 disproves), but asserts only the converse-namely, that whoever, as Hananiah, predicts what the event does not confirm, is a false prophet. There are two tests of prophets -- (1) The event (). (2) Accordance with the Word of God ()....

Jeremiah seems here to conclude that those alone are to be deemed true prophets who prove by the event that they have been sent from above; and it not only appears that this may be gathered from his words, but it may also be shewn to be the definition of a true prophet; for when the event corresponds with the prophecy, there is no doubt but that he who predicted what comes to pass must have been sent by God. But we must bear in mind what is said in Deuteronomy 13:1, where God reminds the people that even when the event answers to the prophecy, the prophets are not to be thoughtlessly and indiscriminately believed, as though they predicted what was true; “for God,” he says, “tries thee,” that is, proves thy faith, whether thou wilt be easily carried away by every wind of doctrine.” But there are two passages, spoken by Moses himself, which at the first sight seem to militate the one agai...

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 28:9. _WHEN THE WORD OF THE PROPHET SHALL COME TO PASS_] Here is the criterion. He is a true prophet who specifies things that he says shall happen, and also fixes the _time_ of the event; and the things do happen, and in that time. _You_ say that Nebuchadnezzar shall not overthrow this city; and that in _two years_ from this time, not only the sacred vessels _already taken away_ shall be restored, but also that _Jeconiah_ and _all the Jewish captives_ shall be restored, and the _Babylonish yoke_ broken, see Jeremiah 28:2. Now _I_ say that Nebuchadnezzar will come _this year_, and destroy this city, and lead away the rest of the people into captivity, and the rest of the sacred vessels; and that there will be no restorat

Jeremiah’s own wishes concurred with Hananiah’s prediction, but asserts that that prediction was at variance with the language of the older prophets. Jeremiah 28:9 THEN SHALL THE PROPHET ... - Or, “shall be known as the prophet whom the Lord hath truly sent.”...

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

THE PROPHET WHICH PROPHESIETH OF PEACE,.... Of prosperity, of good things, as Hananiah did, and which are always acceptable to men; and such a prophet is agreeable to them: WHEN THE WORD OF THE LORD SHALL COME TO PASS; when the prophecy of good things, which he delivers in the name of the Lord, shall be filled: [THEN] SHALL THE PROPHET BE KNOWN THAT THE LORD HATH TRULY SENT HIM; and not till then; it is the event that must make it manifest: in the other case it may be in a good measure known before it comes to pass, and, whether it comes to pass or not, that a prophet is a true prophet; because his prophecies are agreeable to the word and the declared will of God; contain evils threatened on account of sin, and in order to bring men to repentance, which must needs be right; and besides, they have no interest of their own to serve, but run contrary to the stream of the people, and are e...

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

SHALL COME TO PASS. Accusative case to the test laid down in Deuteronomy 18:21; Deuteronomy 18:22 (reference to Pentateuch) App-92....