.28:1-17.

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Hananiah’s false prophecy (Jer 28:1-17)

One of the temple prophets, Hananiah, publicly contradicted Jeremiah. He asserted that he had received a revelation from God that showed that within two years Babylon would be overthrown. The captive people and the temple treasures would then return to Jerusalem (Jer 28:1-4).

Jeremiah replied that he wished such would be the case (Jer 28:5-6), but wishing for a thing does not make it come true. Some prophesy doom, others prophesy peace, but when the events take place then people will know who was right (Jer 28:7-9).

Hananiah, angry at Jeremiah’s words, took the yoke from him and broke it. In this way he expressed his belief that God would break the yoke of Babylon. Jeremiah did nothing, but awaited a word from God (Jer 28:10-11).

When that word came, it announced that the nations under Babylon’s yoke would suffer even greater distress than they had so far experienced. The wooden yoke would be replaced by an iron yoke (Jer 28:12-14).

As for the false prophet, within a few months he would die (Jer 28:15-16).

Jeremiah’s prophecy came true, but Hananiah’s did not (Jer 28:17).