Jeremiah 28

1In that same year, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fifth month of the fourth year, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of Yahweh in the presence of the priests and all the people. He said,

2“This is what Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.

3Within two full years I will bring back to this place all the articles of the house of Yahweh that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took from this place and carried to Babylon.

4I will also bring back to this place Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles from Judah who went to Babylon, declares Yahweh, for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.”

5Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of Yahweh.

6The prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May Yahweh do so! May Yahweh fulfill the words you have prophesied and bring back the articles of the house of Yahweh and all the exiles from Babylon to this place.

7But listen now to this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people.

8The prophets who came before me and before you from ancient times prophesied war, disaster, and plague against many countries and great kingdoms.

9As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes true, then it will be known that Yahweh has truly sent him.”

10Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke bar off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it.

11And Hananiah said in the presence of all the people, “This is what Yahweh says: In the same way I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon off the neck of all the nations within two years.” At this, the prophet Jeremiah went on his way.

12After the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke bar off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah:

13“Go and tell Hananiah, ‘This is what Yahweh says: You have broken bars of wood, but in their place you will make bars of iron.

14For this is what Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations to serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I have even given him the wild animals.’”

15Then the prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah! Yahweh has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie.

16Therefore this is what Yahweh says: Look, I am about to send you away—off the face of the earth. This year you will die, because you have preached rebellion against Yahweh.”

17And the prophet Hananiah died that same year, in the seventh month.