Jeremiah 28

Hananiah Promises a Quick Return

1In that same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, Hananiah son of Azzur, the prophet who was from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the LORD in the sight of the priests and all the people, saying, 2“Thus says the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel: I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3Within two years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the house of the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took from this place and carried to Babylon. 4And Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles from Judah who went to Babylon I will bring back to this place,” says the LORD, “for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.”

Jeremiah Answers Hananiah

5Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Hananiah the prophet in the sight of the priests and in the sight of all the people who stood in the house of the LORD. 6Jeremiah the prophet said, “Amen! May the LORD do so. May the LORD establish your words that you have prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the house of the LORD and all the exiles from Babylon to this place. 7Yet please hear this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people: 8The prophets who were before me and before you from ancient times prophesied against many lands and against great kingdoms of war, disaster, and plague. 9As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then the prophet will be known as one whom the LORD truly sent.”

Hananiah Breaks Jeremiah’s Yoke

10Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke bar from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke it. 11Hananiah spoke in the sight of all the people, saying, “Thus says the LORD: In this way, within two years, I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations.” And Jeremiah the prophet went his way.

A Yoke of Iron

12After Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke bar from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 13“Go and say to Hananiah: Thus says the LORD: You have broken yoke bars of wood, but in their place you have made yoke bars of iron. 14For thus says the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel: I have put an iron yoke upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they shall serve him. Even the animals of the field I have given him.”

Hananiah Dies

15Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah the prophet, “Please hear, Hananiah. The LORD has not sent you, but you have made this people trust in falsehood. 16Therefore thus says the LORD: Look, I am sending you away from the face of the ground. This year you shall die, because you have spoken rebellion against the LORD.” 17And Hananiah the prophet died in that year, in the seventh month.