CHAP. XXVIII.
Hananiah confidently predicts the speedy ruin of Babylon, and the return of the sacred vessels and the captive Jews, 1-4. Jeremiah expresses his desire that it may prove true; but appeals to the event, 6-9. Hananiah breaks the yoke front Jer
emiah's neck, who is sent with yokes of iron to confirm his former prophecies, 10-14. He foretels Hananiah's death, which takes place accordingly, 15-17.
AND
ND it came to pass a the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
r Ezra 1:7,11. 5:13-15. 7:9. c 23:28. Is. 9:15. Zech. 13: a 27:1. 2-4.
b 11. S6:12. 37:13.
V. 22. (Notes, Ezra 1:1--11. Dan. 5:1-4.) 'And there they shall be, until the time of their 'restoration ... by Cyrus, whom I will stir up to 'be gracious to my people.' Bp. Hall.
the God of israel, saying, d I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
3 Within two * full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD's house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon:
4 And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah with all the + captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.
d See on 27:2-12.-Ez. 13:5-g 22:24,28. Coniah. 24:1. 52: 16. Mic. 3:11. 31-34. 2 Kings 25:27-30.
* Heb. years of days. Gen. Jehoiachin. 47:9,28. Ps. 90:10.
e 27:16-22.
† Heb. captivity. 24:5. marg.
h 2,10. 2:20. 30:8. Gen. 27:40.
f 2 Kings 24:13. 2 Chr. 36:10. Is. 9:4. Nah. 1:13. Dan. 1:2.
-32.) and those who encourage them to ex- pect impunity, by contradicting the word of God and "speaking lies in his name," are more criminal than the diviners and sorcer- ers of the Gentiles, and will be answerable for all the souls which perish by their means. But time-servers, who accommodate their in- structions to the inclinations and wishes of men, especially of those in affluence or au- thority, are too generally more acceptable to the great, than the faithful ministers of Christ. Yet, whilst they promise the impenitent and unbelieving increasing prosperity, they have no power or interest in heaven, by which they may avert the most dreadful calamities: ( Notě , Mal . 1:9--11.) and it will be too late to reme- dy the mischief, when the event has proved them deceivers. --But if it be better to submit to those whom Providence places over us, and to live in peace, and to eat the bread of hon-
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. The ministers of religion should always take the lead in every kind of self-denial or selfabasement, which they inculcate on others; and they will be supported under every hardship, which they meet with in the path of duty.--Opposition to the growing power and despotic rule of earthly conquerors and tyrants, should always be conducted in submission to the authority of God, and with every means of obtaining his peace and favor: for the most powerful confederacies will be broken, which are cemented by impiety and rebellion against him. The whole earth is the property, as well as the work, of its omnipotent Creator; and "he giveth it to whomsoev-esty by labor, than to seek great things by tur
er it seemeth meet to him:" but the character of those, who have hitherto had the largest share of its power and riches allotted to them, teaches us how very worthless he deems such acquisitions, compared with spiritual blessings. -The Lord does not now expressly inform us, whom he has appointed to rule the nations: and therefore the efforts of men to defend their liberties from usurpers or invaders, are not indiscriminately to be condemned.
But when his will is made known by the event, it behoves us in our private capacity to consider "the powers that be, as ordained of God;" and to submit to them according to the laws and constitution of our country; without respect to their characters or conduct, for which they must render an account to their own Master. ( Notes , Rom . 13:1--8.)--As every comfort or calamity is at the disposal of God; it must in all cases be our interest to obey his will, by what means soever it is made known: and those who will not believe this, must be convinced of it by the event; and of the fallacy of all the reasonings and devices, by which they were encouraged to seek happiness, in following their own inclinations.
But if all men are bound to obey God, as far as they are able in any way to discover his will: how inexcusable are they who live at the fountain-head of instruction, and have repeated warnings, exhortations, and encouragements sent to them, and yet persist in rebellion! They may be said to be in love with death, and bent on their own destruction: (Notes, Prov . 8:36. Ez. 18:30
bulence, and hazarding the loss of life or property; how good must it be to submit to Christ, "whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light, that we may find rest to our souls!" (Note, Matt . 11:28--30.) For all, who refuse this subjection and neglect his salvation, must be finally and eternally miserable; notwithstanding all their own presumptuous hopes, and the delusions of those, who confidently promise them safety in unbelief and disobedience.
NOTES.
CHAP. XXVIII. V. 1. ( Marg . Ref .) 'This 'plainly refers to the time specified, at the be'ginning of the last chapter, and confirms the 'conjecture there made, that Jehoiakim is put 'there, by a mistake of the copies, for Zedekiah.' Lowth . (Note, 27:1.)-In the beginning , &c.] In the former part of his reign, after he had been king about three years and five months. V.2-4. This false prophet imitated the style and manner of the true prophets: but he un conditionally promised prosperity to an abandoned generation; and did not so much as exhort them to repentance or reformation. ( Notes , 8,9. 23:13--17.26:12-15.) It was just such a message, as some men call pure gospel; all encouragement, promise, and privilege; without warning, discrimination of character, exhortation, or precept.
Jeconiah. (4) 'This was grateful news to the 'people, who looked upon Zedekiah only as 'Nebuchadnezzar's deputy.' Lowth .-Hanani|lah seems to have been more desirous of popu 5 Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto || LORD; 9 Even so will I brake the yoke of the prophet Hananiah, in the presence of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the the priests, and in the presence of all the people, that stood in the house of the LORD;
6 Even the prophet Jeremiah said, i Amen: the LORD do so, * the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the LORD's house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place.
7 Nevertheless, hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people;
8 The prophets, that have been before me, and before thee of old, 1 prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence.
neck of all nations, within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.
12 Then the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah the prophet , after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,
13 Go, and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; $Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.
14 For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the
9 The prophet m which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall field also. come to pass, then shall the prophet be 15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah known that the Lord hath truly sent him. unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, 10 Then Hananiah the prophet took | Hananiah; The Lord hath not sent thee, the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's but thou makest this people to trust in a neck, and brake it.
11 And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the
i 1. 7:2. 19:14. 26:2.
j Num. 5:22. Deut. 27:15-26.
1 Kings 1:36. 1 Chr. 16:36. Ps. 41:13. 72:19. 89:52. 106: 48. Matt. 6:13. 28:20. 1 Cor. 14:16. 2 Cor. 1:20. Rev. 1: 18. 3:14. 5:14. 19:4. 22:20,21. k 3. 11:5. 17:16. 18:20.
1 Lev. 26:14, &c. Deut. 4:26, 27. 28:15,&c. 29:18-28. 31: 16,17. 32:15, &c. 1 Sam. 2:27 -32. 3:11-14. 1 Kings 14:7
-15. 17:1. 21:18-24. 22:8. Is. 5:1-8. 6:9-12. 24: Joel 1:2, &c. 3:1-11. Mic. 3:8- 12. Nah. 1: 2: 3:
m 4:10. 6:14. 8:11. 14:13. Ez. 13:10,16.
n Deut. 18:22. Ez. 13:10-16. ο 2,4. 27:2. 36:23,24. 1 Kings 22:11,24,25. Mal. 3:13.
p 23:17. 29:9. 1 Kings 13:18. 22:6,11,12. 2 Chr. 18:10,22,23. Ez. 15:7.
lar than regal favor: for this prediction could not be altogether agreeable to Zedekiah. But he evidently was a weak, as well as a wicked prince, and was very generally despised. ( Notes , 38:1-6,24-28.)
V.5, 6. Amen , &c.] ( Marg . Ref . j.) The prophet thus expressed his fervent love to his people. He would rejoice, if the predicted miseries should be averted, though he might incur the disgrace of being deemed a false prophet: ( Notes , Jon . 4:1-4. 2 Cor . 13:7-10.) and if his prayers could have prevailed, this would have been the case: but though he prayed for the people, he must prophesy against them, whilst they continued in their sins. ( Notes , 15:1518.1 Kings 22:13-17.)
lie.
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, "I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, bbe
q See on 2-4.-27:2-12.
r 1:2. 29:30. 2 Kings 20:4. 1 Chr. 17:3. Dan. 9:2.
s 27:15. Ps. 149:8. Lam. 2:14. t 40:4. Deut. 4:20. 28:48. Is. 14:4-6.
u See on 25:9-26. Rev. 17:12, 13.
x 27:6. Dan. 2:38.
y 11. 14:14,15. 23:21. 27:15. 29. 23,31. 1 Kings 22:23. Ez. 13. 2,3,22. 22:28. Zech. 13:3.
z Gen. 7:4. Ex. 32:12. Deut. 6:15. 1 Kings 13:34. Am. 9:8. a 3. 20:6. Num. 14:37. 16:28 -35. Deut. 13:5-11.
b Ez. 13:11,12. Acts 13:8-11.
fers 'two reasons; first, Many other proph'ets agreed with him in prophesying evil 'against the Jews;... such as Hosea, Joel, 'Amos, Isaiah, Micah, Habakkuk, Zephaniah: 'whereas Hananiah being single in his prophe'cy, nothing but the punctual answering the 'event, could give him the authority of a true 'prophet.... Secondly, That considering the 'general corruption of the people's manners it 'was so much the more likely God should in'flict severe judgments upon them. Lowth .
V. 10, 11. ( Note , 27:2,3.) Jeremiah continued to wear the yoke before all the people, in order the more forcibly to impress their minds, with the certainty of the events signified by this emblem. But Hananiah violently took the yoke from him, and brake it, to give the greater credit to his own confident and repeated prediction. ( Notes , 1 Kings 22:11,24,25.)-And as the prophet had no message to deliver on this occasion, he would not enter into any further altercation with so violent a man; but waited till God directed him what to say and
do.
V. 8, 9. All the prophets, whom God had raised up in Israel, had predicted great calamities to guilty nations, which had either come upon them, or been averted by repentance. So that they, who at this time opposed Jeremiah, would have opposed all who preceded him, for the same reasons. But it had not been common for prophets to be sent, merely to assure the people of peace: and it was altogether unprecedented, for a true prophet to promise deliverance to a guilty nation, without calling the people to repentance. ( Notes , 14:13-16.23: 13-17. Is . 30:8-11. Mic . 3:5-7.) The event must therefore shew whether Jeremiah, or his opponent, was sent of God: for one of them must be a false prophet, as their predictions flatly contradicted each other. Jeremiah of-||25:27--29. 27:2-11.)
V. 13, 14. Yokes of iron would be more galling, as well as far stronger, than yokes of wood; which implied that every effort of the nations, to resist the power of Nebuchadnezzar, would render their bondage more rigorous: and as Hananiah's prophecies tended to encourage this unavailing resistance, it is said, "Thou shalt make them yokes of iron." ( Notes ,
cause thou hast taught *rebellion against || had carried away captive from Jerusalem the LORD.
17 So Hananiah the prophet died the
same year, in the seventh month.