CHAPTER 28
In the fifth
month
of that same
year,
the fourth
year,
near the beginning
of the reign
of King
Zedekiah
of Judah,
the prophet
Hananiah
son
of Azzur
of Gibeon,
said
to me
in the house
of the LORD
in the presence
of the priests
and all
the people:
“This is what
the LORD
of Hosts,
the God
of Israel,
says:
‘I have broken
the yoke
of the king
of Babylon.
Within two years
I
will restore
to
this
place
all
the articles
of the house
of the LORD
that
King
Nebuchadnezzar
of Babylon
removed
from
here
and carried
to Babylon.
And I
will restore
to
this
place
Jeconiah
son
of Jehoiakim
king
of Judah,
along with
all
the exiles
from Judah
who went
to Babylon,’
declares
the LORD,
‘for
I will break
the yoke
of the king
of Babylon.’"
Then the prophet
Jeremiah
replied
to
the prophet
Hananiah
in the presence
of the priests
and all
the people
who were standing
in the temple
of the LORD.
“Amen!”
Jeremiah
said.
“May the LORD
do
so!
May the LORD
fulfill
the words
you have prophesied,
and may He restore
the articles
of His
house
and all
the exiles
back
to this
place
from Babylon.
Nevertheless,
listen
now
to this
message
I
am speaking
in your hearing
and in the hearing
of all
the people.
The prophets
of old
who
preceded
you
and me
prophesied
war,
disaster,
and plague
against
many
lands
and great
kingdoms.
As for the prophet
who
prophesies
peace,
only if the word
of the prophet
comes true
will the prophet
be recognized
as one the LORD
has truly
sent.”
And in the presence
of all
the people
Hananiah
proclaimed,
“This is what
the LORD
says:
‘In this way,
within two years
I will break
the yoke
of King
Nebuchadnezzar
of Babylon
off
the neck
of all
the nations.’”
At this, Jeremiah
the prophet
went
on his way.
But shortly after
Hananiah
the prophet
had broken
the yoke
off
his neck,
the word
of the LORD
came
to
Jeremiah:
“Go
and tell
Hananiah
that this is what
the LORD
says:
‘You have broken
a yoke
of wood,
but in its place
you have fashioned
a yoke
of iron.’
For
this is what
the LORD
of Hosts,
the God
of Israel,
says:
‘I have put
a yoke
of iron
on
the neck
of all
these
nations
to make them serve
King
Nebuchadnezzar
of Babylon,
and they will serve him.
I have even
given him control
of the beasts
of the field.'"
Then the prophet
Jeremiah
said
to
the prophet
Hananiah,
“Listen,
Hananiah!
The LORD
did not
send you,
but you
have persuaded
this people
to trust
in
a lie.
Therefore,
this is what
the LORD
says:
‘I am about to remove you
from
the face
of the earth.
You
will die
this year
because
you have preached
rebellion
against
the LORD.’”