---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Jeremiah 28"
description: "CHAPTER 28   :-. PROPHECIES
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING
THOSE IN THE
TWENTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER.
HANANIAH BREAKS
THE YOKES TO
SIGNIFY THAT
NEBUCHADNEZZAR"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/jeremiah/28"
---

CHAPTER 28

. PROPHECIES
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING
THOSE IN THE
TWENTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER.
HANANIAH BREAKS
THE YOKES TO
SIGNIFY THAT
NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S YOKE
SHALL BE
BROKEN. JEREMIAH
FORETELLS THAT YOKES
OF IRON ARE
TO SUCCEED THOSE
OF WOOD, AND THAT
HANANIAH SHALL
DIE.

**1. in the beginning of the reign of
Zedekiah**—The Jews often divided any period into two halves, *the
beginning* and *the end.* As Zedekiah reigned eleven years,
the fourth year would be called the *beginning* of his reign,
especially as during the first three years affairs were in such a
disturbed state that he had little power or dignity, being a
tributary; but in the fourth year he became strong in power.
**Hananiah**—Another of
this name was one of the three godly youths who braved
Nebuchadnezzar's wrath in the fear of God ([Daniel 1:6](../../../kjv/daniel/1/6);
[Daniel 1:7](../../../kjv/daniel/1/7); [Daniel 3:12](../../../kjv/daniel/3/12)).
Probably a near relation, for *Azariah* is associated with him;
as *Azur* with the Hananiah here. The godly and ungodly are
often in the same family ([Daniel 3:12](../../../kjv/daniel/3/12)).
**Gibeon**—one of the
cities of the priests, to which order he must have belonged.

**2. broken the yoke**—*I have
determined to break:* referring to Jeremiah's prophecy ().

**3. two full years**—literally,
"years of days." So "a month of days," that is,
all its days complete ([Genesis 29:14](../../../kjv/genesis/29/14),
*Margin;* [Genesis 41:1](../../../kjv/genesis/41/1)). It was
marvellous presumption to speak so definitely without having any
divine revelation.

**4. bring again . . . Jeconiah**—not
*necessarily* implying that Hananiah wished Zedekiah to be
superseded by Jeconiah. The main point intended was that the
restoration from Babylon should be complete. But, doubtless, the
false prophet foretold Jeconiah's return (), to ingratiate himself with the populace, with whom
Jeconiah was a favorite (see on ).

**5. the prophet Jeremiah**—the
epithet, "the prophet," is prefixed to "Jeremiah"
throughout this chapter, to correspond to the same epithet before
"Hananiah"; except in , where "*the prophet*" has been inserted in
*English Version.* The rival claims of the true and the false
prophet are thus put in the more prominent contrast.

**6. Amen**—Jeremiah prays *for*
the people, though constrained to prophesy against them (). The *event* was the appointed test between
contradictory predictions ([Deuteronomy 18:21](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/18/21);
[Deuteronomy 18:22](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/18/22)). "Would that what
you say were true!" I prefer the safety of my country even to my
own estimation. The prophets had no pleasure in announcing God's
judgment, but did so as a matter of stern duty, not thereby divesting
themselves of their natural feelings of sorrow for their country's
woe. Compare [Exodus 32:32](../../../kjv/exodus/32/32); [Romans 9:3](../../../kjv/romans/9/3),
as instances of how God's servants, intent only on the glory of God
and the salvation of the country, forgot self and uttered wishes in a
state of feeling transported out of themselves. So Jeremiah wished
not to diminish aught from the word of God, though as a Jew he
uttered the wish for his people [CALVIN].

**8. prophets . . . before me**—Hosea,
Joel, Amos, and others.
**evil**—a few manuscripts,
read "*famine,*" which is more usually associated with
the specification of *war* and *pestilence* ([Jeremiah 15:2](../../../kjv/jeremiah/15/2);
[Jeremiah 18:21](../../../kjv/jeremiah/18/21); [Jeremiah 27:8](../../../kjv/jeremiah/27/8);
[Jeremiah 27:13](../../../kjv/jeremiah/27/13)). But *evil* here
includes *all* the calamities flowing from *war,* not
merely *famine,* but also *desolation,* &c. *Evil,*
being the more difficult reading, is less likely to be the
interpolated one than *famine,* which probably originated in
copying the parallel passages.

**9. 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](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/13/1);
[Deuteronomy 13:2](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/13/2), 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, [Deuteronomy 13:2](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/13/2). (2) The word of God, [Deuteronomy 13:2](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/13/2).

**10. the yoke**— (). Impious audacity to break what God had appointed as a
solemn pledge of the fulfilment of His word. Hence Jeremiah deigns no
reply ([Jeremiah 28:11](../../../kjv/jeremiah/28/11); [Matthew 7:6](../../../kjv/matthew/7/6)).

**11. neck of all nations**—opposed
to [Jeremiah 27:7](../../../kjv/jeremiah/27/7).

**13. Thou hast broken . . . wood . .
. thou shalt make . . . iron**—Not here, "*Thou* hast
broken . . . wood," and "*I* will make . . . iron"
(compare [Jeremiah 28:16](../../../kjv/jeremiah/28/16)). The same
false prophets who, by urging the Jews to rebel, had caused them to
throw off the then comparatively *easy* yoke of Babylon, thereby
brought on them a *more severe* yoke imposed by that city.
"Yokes of iron," alluding to [Jeremiah 28:16](../../../kjv/jeremiah/28/16). It is better to take up a light cross in our way, than to
pull a heavier on our own heads. We may escape destroying providences
by submitting to humbling providences. So, spiritually, contrast the
"easy yoke" of Christ with the "yoke of bondage"
of the law ([Acts 15:10](../../../kjv/acts/15/10); [Galatians 5:1](../../../kjv/galatians/5/1)).

**14. I have put**—Though Hananiah
and those like him were secondary instruments in bringing the iron
yoke on Judea, *God* was the great First Cause ().

**15. makest . . . trust in a lie**—
([Jeremiah 29:31](../../../kjv/jeremiah/29/31); [Ezekiel 13:22](../../../kjv/ezekiel/13/22)).

**16. this year . . . die**—The
prediction was uttered in the *fifth* month (); Hananiah's death took place in the *seventh* month,
that is, within *two months* after the prediction, answering
with awful significance to the *two years* in which Hananiah had
foretold that the yoke imposed by Babylon would end.
**rebellion**—opposition to
God's plain direction, that all should submit to Babylon ().

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