Chapter 28

1 Hananiah prophesieth falsely the return of the vessels, and of Jeconiah. 5 Jeremiah, wishing it to be true, sheweth that the event will declare who are true prophets. 10 Hananiah breaketh Jeremiah’s yoke. 12 Jeremiah telleth of an iron yoke, 15 and foretelleth Hananiah’s death.

1. The same year. The time of ch. 28, that is, the 4th year of Zedekiah’s reign (approximately 593 b.c.), follows not long after that of ch. 29.

Hananiah. This man seems to have been one of Jeremiah’s most prominent opponents and one of the leaders of the resistance party that was endeavoring to form an alliance with the neighboring nations against Babylon (see ch. 27).

Gibeon. Like Anathoth, this was one of the cities of priests (see Joshua 21:13, 17, 18). This may indicate that Hananiah, like Jeremiah, was a priest as well as a “prophet.” At one time “the tabernacle of the Lord” was at Gibeon (1 Kings 3:4; 1 Chron. 16:39; 2 Chron. 1:3). Gibeon, the modern ejРJйЖb, was 51/4 mi. (8.4 km.) northwest of Jerusalem.

2. Broken the yoke. The reference is undoubtedly to the “yoke” mentioned by the true prophet (ch. 27:2). Hananiah presumed to contradict the inspired message of Jeremiah.

3. Two full years. It is possible that the alliance between Judah and the neighboring nations against Nebuchadnezzar (see ch. 27:1–8) was taking shape and that Hananiah did not doubt the certainty of its success.

All the vessels. Presumptuously Hananiah predicts a great shortening of the period of time that Jeremiah said “the vessels of the Lord’s house” would remain in Babylon (see ch. 27:22).

4. Jeconiah. See on ch. 22:24. Evidently Jehoiachin was still regarded by many as the rightful king (see Vol. II, pp. 96, 97), whom they expected to see return and be restored to his throne. This outcome would directly contradict Jeremiah’s prophecy that Jehoiachin would not return to Judah but would die in a foreign country (ch. 22:24–26).

6. Amen. The prophet may have meant, “I wish that were the case; it would be wonderful if that were true.” Some, however, hold that Jeremiah uttered these words in biting irony, the prophet seemingly putting himself in accord with the prediction of Hananiah only the more emphatically to reveal its falsity.

7. Nevertheless. The Lord had something to say in the matter regardless of any wishes or predictions of man.

9. Peace. See on ch. 6:14.

Prophet be known. To gain favor the false prophet satisfied and deceived the people with promises of an assured prosperity, in opposition to the predictions of “evil, and of pestilence” (see v. 8) given by the true prophet (see on ch. 14:13). Jeremiah knew he could rest his case on the issue of the fulfillment or nonfulfillment of his prophecies (see Deut. 18:20–22).

10. Brake it. This experience of the false prophet Hananiah and the true prophet Jeremiah parallels that of Zedekiah and Micaiah (1 Kings 22:8–25). By this presumptuous act of force Hananiah undoubtedly wished to show the people that he would not permit them to be outraged by this odious symbol of servitude. His breaking of the yoke was meant to be a guarantee that the Babylonian power would be destroyed.

11. Two full years. See on v. 3.

Jeremiah went his way. The true prophet did not resist or retaliate against Hananiah’s use of physical force.

12. Then the word. It may be that this “word” did not come immediately after the experience of v. 11. The RSV introduces the verse with the words, “Sometime after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke-bars,” etc.

13. Yokes of iron. See Deut. 28:48. As a rebuke to all attempts to resist Nebuchadnezzar as His chosen “servant” to punish His people (see Jer. 25:9), God persists in using the figure of the yoke, but this time with a stronger, more severe force, that of “iron,” thus warning the apostates that any resistance would only result in more bitter and more painful bondage.

14. Lord of hosts. See on chs. 7:3; 27:4.

Beasts of the field. See ch. 27:6.

16. I will cast thee. Literally, “I will send thee”; which repeats, for ironical effect, the same Hebrew verb for “sent” as in v. 15.

This year. Literally, “the year,” perhaps a year’s interval (not necessarily the remainder of that regnal year), like Hananiah’s “within two full years” mentioned on an earlier occasion (vs. 3, 11). “This year,” extending into “the seventh month” (v. 17), would allow time for Hananiah to repent or for the people to detect his false claims. His death parallels the fate of Ananias and of Elymas (see Acts 5:4, 5; 13:6–11).

17. The same year. Literally, “that year,” referring to “the year” of v. 16, not necessarily the “fourth year” of v. 1. At most, a sixth of a year had passed (v. 1) when Jeremiah’s prediction of v. 16 was fulfilled. The speedy fulfillment of the prophet’s prediction should have impressed on the people the genuineness of Jeremiah’s calling, but doubtless some refused to accept even this as an evidence in his favor.

Ellen G. White comments

1–17PK 444–446; 4T 170–172

1     4T 170

2–4PK 445

3–84T 170

9     PK 445

9–174T 171

10–17PK 446