Jeremiah 28

Jeremiah 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 ( Daniel 1:6 Daniel 1:7 , 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 ( Ezekiel 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 ( Jeremiah 27:12 ).

3. two full years--literally, "years of days." So "a month of days," that is, all its days complete ( Genesis 29:14 , Margin; Genesis 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 Jeconiah--not necessarily implying that Hananiah wished Zedekiah to be superseded by Jeconiah.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 ( 2 Kings 24:12-15 ), to ingratiate himself with the populace, with whom Jeconiah was a favorite

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 Jeremiah 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 ( 1 Kings 1:36 ). The event was the appointed test between contradictory predictions ( Deuteronomy 18:21 Deuteronomy 18:22 ). "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 Exodus 32:32 , Romans 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 ( Jeremiah 15:2 , 18:21 , Jeremiah 27:8 Jeremiah 27:13 ). 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.