Thus saith the Lord to me, make thee bonds and yokes
The yokes were made of wood, as appears from ( Jeremiah 28:13 ) ; and the bonds were strings or thongs, which bound the yoke together, that it might not slip off the neck, on which it was put: and put them upon thy neck;
not all of them together, but one after another, at different times; and this was very significant; for the prophet being seen abroad with a yoke upon his neck, it would be natural to inquire the meaning of it; when they would be told it was to signify the subjection of Judah, and so of other nations, to the king of Babylon; and that he did wear at times such a yoke, even fifteen years after, in the fourth of Zedekiah's reign, appears from ( Jeremiah 28:1 Jeremiah 28:10 ) .