Jeremiah 28

Hanajah prophesieth falsely against Jeremiah verse 1c. against which Jeremiah descendeth himself 5 Hananja breaketh the yoke from off the neck of Jeremiah 10 who at God’s commandments maketh an iron one instead thereof with a repetition of his prophesy and determination of death unto Hananja the same year wherein he also died 12.

1. Moreover it came to pass in the same year [that he exhorted Zedekiah the priest and the people above chapter 27.12c. to bow their necks under the yoke of king of Babel] in the beginning of king Zedekiah the king of Judah in the forth year, [in which year king Zedekiah also sent an ambassador to Babel see below chapter 51.59] in the fifth month that Hananja [Heb Chananja] the son of Azur [Heb Azzur] the prophet [meaning false prophet so in the sequel]that was of Gibeon [a city of the priest Josiah 21.13,17] spake unto me in the house of the Lord before the eyes [that is in the presence and so often in the sequel] of the priest and of al the people saying :

2. Thus saith the Lord of host the God of Israel saying: I have broken the yoke of the king of Babel.

3. In the two full years [Heb years of days see Genesis 41 on verse 1 so below on verse 11] will I bring again to his place all the vessels of the Lord which Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babel took away from this place and brought them to Babel.

4. Also I will bring to this place Jechonia the son of Jojakim king of Judah and all them that were carried away captive [Heb captive carrying away transportation so below verse 6 and 29.1,20 and elsewhere often] of Judah that were come to Babel saith the Lord [this he speaketh falsely see above chapter 23.31] for I will break the yoke of the king of Babel.

5. Then spake the prophet Jeremiah to the prophet Hananja before the eyes [as above verse 1] of the priest before the eyes of all the people that stood in the house of the Lord.

6. And the prophet Jeremiah saith Amen [that is be it true see Numbers 5 on verse 22] the Lord do so the Lord confirm thy words which thou hast bring again the vessels of the Lords house [that is of his as often] and all that are carried captive [as above verse 4] from Babel to this place.

7. But hear[thou Hananja] now this word that I speak before thine ears and before the ears of all the people.

8. The prophet that hath been before me and before thee of old: they prophesied against many lands and against great [or mighty] kingdoms of war and of evil [that is all manner of plagues mischief and misery which do usually accompany war as famine desolation of the land and people c.] and pestilence [when sins prevailed and were ripe for punishment such hath been ordinarily the burden of the prophets now will Jeremiah say thou practiseth the clean contrary hardening the people in wickedness whereas the true prophets by threatening them with Gods judgments sought to bring them to repentance with promises of grace and mercy to the penitents.]

9. The prophet that shall have prophesied of peace [or concerning a prophet &c] when the word of the prophet cometh [that is cometh to pass it accomplished so Judges 13:12] then shall that prophet be known that the Lord hath sent him.

10. Then hananja the prophet took the yoke from Jeremiahs neck [see above chapter 27 on verse 2] and he break it.

11. And Hananja spake before the eyes [as above verse 1,5] of all people saying thus saith the Lord so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babel in the two full years [as above verse 3] from the neck of all nations [meaning taking it from off the neck c from verse 10 so in the next verse] and the prophet Jeremiah went his way [looking for further relation and charge from God .]

12. But the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah after the prophet Hananja had broken the yoke from his neck of the prophet Jeremiah saying:

13. Go thy ways and speak to Hananja saying thus saith the LORD [O Hananja] hast broken the wooden yoke [this may be understood that Hananja breaking the wooden yoke from Jeremiah would thereby imitate all the rest whereof is spoken chapter 27.2,3c. should be likewise broken or it may be here rendered wooden draught trees se above chapter 27 on verse 2because in the sequel another Hebrew word which also signifieth a yoke is used compare further Deuteronomy 28:48] now shalt thou [O Jeremiah] instead of them make iron yokes [these are the words that the Lord spake unto Jeremiah that he might in his name tell them to Hananja.]

14. For thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel I have put an iron neck upon all these nations that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babel and they shall serve him yea I have given him the beasts of the field [see above chapter 27 on verse 6.]

15. And the prophet Jeremiah saith unto the prophet Hananja hear now Hananja the Lord hath not sent thee but thou hast made these people to trust in a lie.

16. Therefore thus saith the Lord behold I will cast thee away from the earth [take thee away out of the land of the living as the scripture elsewhere speaketh and send thee to thine own place compare Acts 1:25] this year thou shalt die because thou hast spoken backsliding against the Lord [hardening the people by false prophesies in their backsliding and wickedness compare Deuteronomy 13:15 below chapter 29.32.]

17. So the prophet Hananja died in the same year in the seventh month[the second year after he was foretold of his death by Jeremiah the prophet see above verse 1.]