1Hananiah's false prophecy of the return of the vessels and captives from Babylon within two years. 5Jeremiah, wishing it to be true, appealeth to the event. 10Hananiah breaketh the yoke off Jeremiah's neck. 12Jeremiah under the type of an iron yoke confirmeth the prophecy of the subjection of the nations to the king of Babylon. 15He foretelleth Hananiah's death.
1AND it came to pass the 1same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the 2fourth year, and in the fifth month, that 3Hananiah the son of 4Azur the 5prophet, which was of 6Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the 7presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
1 When he had exhorted Zedekiah, the priests and the people (as Jer. 27:12, etc.) to bow their necks under the yoke of the king of Babel.
2 In which year king Zedekiah also sent an ambassador to Babel. See Jer. 51:59.
3 Hebr. Chananja.
4 Hebr. Azzur.
5 Understand false prophet, as such in the sequel.
6 A city of the priests, Joshua 21:13, 17.
7 Or, before the eyes, and so often in the sequel.
2Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
3Within twoa8full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD's house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon:
a Jer. 27:16.
8 Hebr. years of days. See Gen. 41 on verse 1. Also verse 11.
4And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the 9captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, 10saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.
9 Hebr. captive carrying away, transportation; also verse 6; Jer. 29:1, 20, and elsewhere often.
10 This Jeconiah spoke falsely. See Jer. 23:31.
5¶Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the 11presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the LORD,
11 As verse 1.
6Even the prophet Jeremiah said, 12Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of 13the LORD’S house, and all that is 14carried away captive, from Babylon into this place.
12 That is, be it true. See Num. 5 on verse 22.
13 That is, of His house; as often.
14 As verse 4.
7Nevertheless 15hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people;
15 Thou Hananiah.
8The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both 16against many countries, and against 17great kingdoms, of war, and of 18evil, and of pestilence.
16 When sins prevailed and were ripe for punishment, such has ordinarily been the burden of the prophets; now (Jeremiah wants to say) you practice the contrary, hardening the people in wickedness, whereas the true prophets, by threatening them with God’s judgments, sought to bring them to repentance, with promise of grace and mercy to the penitent.
17 Or, mighty.
18 That is, all manner of plagues, mishaps and misery, which do usually accompany war, as famine, desolation of lands and people, etc.
919The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall 20come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.
19 Or, Concerning a prophet, etc.
20 That is, follow, accomplished. Also Judges 13:12.
10¶Then Hananiah the prophet took 21the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it.
21 See Jer. 27 on verse 2.
11And Hananiah spake in the 22presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon 23from the neck of all nations within the space of two 24full years. And the prophet Jeremiah 25went his way.
22 As verses 1 and 5.
23 Understand: taking it from the neck, etc., from verse 10. Also in the next verse.
24 As verse 3.
25 Expecting further revelation and charge from God.
12¶Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,
13Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; 26Thou hast broken the 27yokes of wood; but 28thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.
26 O Hananiah.
27 This may be understood that Hananiah, breaking one wooden yoke from of Jeremiah, would thereby imitate that all the others, whereof is spoken in Jer. 27:2, 3, etc., would likewise be broken. Or, it may be rendered here wooden drawing bars (see Jer. 27 on verse 2), because in the sequel another Hebrew word, which also signifies a yoke, is used. Compare further Deut. 28:48.
28 O Jeremiah; these are the words which God spoke unto Jeremiah that he might in His Name tell them to Hananiah.
14For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the 29beastsb of the field also.
29 See Jer. 27 on verse 6.
b Jer. 27:16.
15¶Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.
16Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will 30cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught 31rebellionc against the LORD.
30 Take thee away out of the land of the living (as the Scripture speaks elsewhere) and send thee to thine own place. Compare Acts 1:25.
31 Hardening the people by the false prophesies in their backsliding and wickedness. Compare Deut. 13:5.
c Deut. 13:5; Jer. 29:32.
17So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the 32seventh month.
32 The second month, after that he was foretold of his death by Jeremiah the prophet. See verse 1.