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,
the same year. As Jeremiah 27:12 , when Jeremiah spoke to Zedekiah; not Jeremiah 27:1 , when he received the message which was to be delivered. The same year in which Jeremiah had counseled Zedekiah not to hearken to the false prophets (Jeremiah 27:14 ).
Hananiah. A false prophet. Compare Jeremiah 27:12 , Jeremiah 27:14 .
Gibeon. A city of the priests (Joshua 21:17 ). Hananiah was therefore probably a priest as Jeremiah was.
in the house. Compare Jeremiah 26:2 .
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah.
Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 7:3 .
I have broken. This was proved to be a false promise.
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:
two full years. Hebrew two years in days [measured in] days: i.e. complete years. Compare Genesis 41:1 . a Samaritan Pentateuch Jeremiah 13:23 . Not years of days (a day for a year).
Nebuchadnezzar. See note on Jeremiah 27:6 .
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.
captives. Hebrew captivity. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for the people in captivity.
saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah's oracle.
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,
Jeremiah. Spelled here, and in this chapter only (except Jeremiah 27:1 .Ezra 1:1 .Daniel 9:2; Daniel 9:2 ), in an abbreviated form, " Yirmeyah" instead of " Yirmeyahu ", as elsewhere. This may be to bring the true prophet into stronger contrast with the false " Hananeyah".
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.
Amen. Interpreted in the words which follow.
words. Some codices, with three early printed editions, Aramaean, and Septuagint, read "word" (singular)
Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people;
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.
evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra'a'. Some codices, with one early printed edition, read "famine". Compare Jeremiah 27:8 , and Jeremiah 29:17 .
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.
shall come to pass. Accusative case to the test laid down in Deuteronomy 18:21 , Deuteronomy 18:22 (reference to Pentateuch) App-92 .
Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it.
the yoke. See Jeremiah 27:2 . Made of wood (Jeremiah 28:13 ).
from off. So that Jeremiah was still wearing it (Jeremiah 27:2 ).
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.
went his way. Having no further word from Jehovah.
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,
Jeremiah's Nineteenth Prophecy (see book comments for Jeremiah).
Then = And. Evidently shortly after this.
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.
for = instead of.
yokes of iron. These are never used. No stronger symbol could have been given.
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.
I have put, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:48 , the same words).
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.
not sent thee. The test applied (Deuteronomy 18:21 , Deuteronomy 18:22 ).
trust = confide.
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.
the earth = the ground, or soil.
die. According to Deuteronomy 18:20 . Reference to Pentateuch
taught = spoken. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 13:5 ). App-92 .
rebellion, &c. Zedekiah had taken an oath of allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:17 . 2 Chronicles 36:13 .Ezekiel 17:15 , Ezekiel 17:18 ). So it was a double rebellion.
So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.
seventh month: i.e. two months after, instead of "two years" (Jeremiah 28:3 ).
