By Eugene Garner

JEREMIAH - CHAPTER 28

THE FALSE PROPHECY AND DEATH OF HANANIAH

    And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying, 2 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two full 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: 4 And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.

    1. Verse 1 clearly declares that the prophecy of chapter 27 was for Zedekiah, rather than for Jehoiakim.
    2. In the fourth year and fifth month of Zedekiah's reign, Jeremiah was challenged in the temple, before the priests and a large number of people, by Hananiah, a false prophet of Gibeon, (vs. 1b; comp. Josh. 9:5-6; 10:12; l Kings 3:4).
    3. Hananiah had no qualms about claiming (falsely) to speak the words of Jehovah, (vs. 2, 11); nor did he hesitate to pervert Jeremiah's symbolism - declaring that the yoke of Babylon was broken.
    4. He, further, claimed that within two years all that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Judah - the vessels of the Lord's house, king Jeconiah, and all the captives of Judah - would be returned to their own land, (vs. 3-4a; contrast 27:16).
      a. Here he flatly contradicts the earlier prophecy of Jeremiah, (22:24-27).
      b. He appears willing to submit to the "lie detector test" set forth in Deuteronomy 18:22).
    5. Again, he insisted; "Jehovah says, I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon" - with the implication that the Lord had vowed to do this within two years, (vs. 4b).

    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, 6 Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the LORD'S house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place. 7 Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people; 8 The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence. 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. 10 Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it. 11 And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.

    1. Jeremiah does not doubt that Hananiah means to challenge the validity of his prophetic authority, (vs. 5-6).
      a. But, self-defense was not one of the things to which God had called His servant; Jehovah was his defense!
      b. Thus, Jeremiah stood before the vast assembly, in the house of the Lord, and answered, "AMEN" (comp. 11:3-5) to what Hananiah had spoken.
        1) He would be greatly pleased if Jehovah WOULD perform all that Hananiah had spoken.
        2) The prosperity of Judah was certainly more important to him than his own reputation!
    2. Nevertheless, Jeremiah has a further word to offer, (comp. I Kings 22:28).
      a. The former prophets have ALL spoken of judgment that was to be poured out upon many nations; the validity of their words has been proved by the events that followed, (I Kings 14:14-16; Isa. 5:5-7).
      b. They have also spoken of judgment upon Judah and her confederates at the hands of Babylon; with these Jeremiah is in agreement.
      c. If a prophet now speaks of "peace" concerning these SAME PEOPLE, his words may be regarded as true ONLY WHEN THEY ARE FULFILLED, (vs. 9); the words of God's true servant will always be fulfilled.
    3. The obvious meekness of Jeremiah's reply so emboldened the lying prophet that he lifted the yoke from Jeremiah's neck and broke it in the presence of all the people, (vs. 10; comp. 36:23-26; I Kings 22:11-28).
    4. Claiming once more to speak in the name of Jehovah, Hananiah repeated his prophecy that within two years Jehovah would break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar from off the neck of ALL NATIONS!
      a. Satan and his ministers often promise "peace, joy and comfort" when God calls for judgment.
      b. But, their end will be sad, (14-18; 27:10).
    5. Possibly wondering if God had changed His mind, and even abandoned him as His spokesman, Jeremiah walked away from the confrontation in silence.
      a. To remain silent after one has spoken the truth is often the most effective rebuke of falsehood.
      b. To wait in silence before the Lord is the surest way to hear His re-assuring voice in times of trial and perplexity.

    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, 13 Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron. 14 For 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 beasts of the field also. 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. 16 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD. 17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

    1. There is nothing here to indicate how much time may have passed between Jeremiah's confrontation of Hananiah in the temple and this command to take him a message from Jehovah.
      a. It is most likely that Jeremiah has spent considerable time in prayer - desiring assurance that he was truly proclaiming the word of the Lord.
      b. That assurance was given in the message he was to take to Hananiah.
    2. Hananiah had broken a wooden yoke - in defiance of the will and word of God; he will, in turn, wear a yoke of iron, (comp. Psa. 107:16; Isa. 45:12).
      a. Submission to the word and will of God is a LIGHT yoke.
      b. Insubordination inevitably leads to a yoke of heaviness!
    3. God has put a yoke of iron upon the necks of all those nations, associated with Judah in their rebellion against Babylon, that they may surely serve Nebuchadnezzar - along with all the beasts of the field, (25:11; 27:8; Deut. 28:47-48).
    4. But, that is not all: Jeremiah has a more specific and personal word for the false prophet, (vs. 15-17).
      a. "The Lord has not sent you!" declared the faithful man of God, (vs. 15b; comp. Ezek. 13:2-7, 22; 22:28).
      b. "You are causing the people to trust in a lie!" (vs. 15c; comp. 29:31-32; Lam. 2:14).
      c. Therefore, the Lord will THIS YEAR cast him off the face of the earth (into sheol) because he has taught Judah to rebel against Jehovah, her God, (vs. 16; comp. I Kings 13:33-34; Jer. 20:6; 29:32).
    5. The word of the true prophet came to pass, in the death of Hananiah, during the seventh month of that same year (vs. 17) - less than two months after Jeremiah had spoken!