Jeremiah 28

Jer 28:1-17.

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

(Da 1:6, 7; 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

(Eze 18:14-20).

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

(Jer 27:12).

3. two full years--literally, "years of days." So "a month of days,"

that is, all its days complete

(Ge 29:14,

Margin;

Ge 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implying that Hananiah wished Zedekiah to be superseded by Jeconiah.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

(2Ki 24:12-15),

to ingratiate himself with the populace, with whom Jeconiah was a

favorite (see on

Jer 22:24).

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

Jer 28:12,

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

(1Ki 1:36).

The event was the appointed test between contradictory

predictions

(De 18:21, 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

Ex 32:32;

Ro 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

(Jer 15:2; 18:21; 27:8, 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

De 13:1, 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,

De 18:22.

(2) The word of God,

Isa 8:20.

10. the yoke--

(Jer 27:2).

Impious audacity to break what God had appointed as a solemn pledge of

the fulfilment of His word. Hence Jeremiah deigns no reply

(Jer 28:11;

Mt 7:6).

11. neck of all nations--opposed to

Jer 27:7.

13. Thou hast broken . . . wood . . . thou shalt

make . . . iron--Not here, "Thou hast broken

. . . wood," and "I will make . . . iron"

(compare

Jer 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

De 28:48.

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

(Ac 15:10;

Ga 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

(Jer 27:4-7).

15. makest . . . trust in a lie--

(Jer 29:31;

Eze 13:22).

16. this year . . . die--The prediction was uttered in

the fifth month

(Jer 28:1);

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

(Jer 29:32).