Tyndale Open Study NotesJeremiah 28

Shortly after the events of Jeremiah 27, a false prophet named Hananiah publicly challenged Jeremiah in the Temple courtyard. Each prophet claimed to deliver a message from the Lord, but only Jeremiah's prediction was accurate.

The people were in the temple, so it was likely during one of the annual fall festivals. It could have been the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:26–32) or the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33–36).

• Hananiah's message was the accepted propaganda, but he used strong words (Jeremiah 27:4) to claim the Lord's authority.

• Judah had been under the control of the king of Babylon since 597 BC.

• The false prophet's message claimed that Jehoiachin would return. This implied that Zedekiah had a lower status as ruler over the kingdom of Judah (see study note on Ezekiel 1:2).

• declares the LORD: Hananiah ended with the same strong appeal to divine authority that Jeremiah often used.

Amen! (literally So be it!): Jeremiah would have been pleased if this prediction came true.

People can be sure a prophet speaks the Lord's word only if his predictions come true (Deuteronomy 18:20–22).

• The false prophet Hananiah broke the yoke that Jeremiah was wearing (Jeremiah 27:2) as a sign of what the Lord would do.

• Jeremiah left the confrontation without replying, likely because he had not yet heard the Lord's response.

Jeremiah delivered the Lord's response to the false prophecy. Hananiah broke a wooden yoke, but it was replaced by a symbolic iron yoke. Submission to Babylon was certain because the Lord had decreed it.

You will die: The Lord decreed that Hananiah must die, as the law required for false prophets (Deuteronomy 13:1–5). The Lord enforced this decree that same year. Jeremiah's prophecy proved true when fulfilled two months later. In contrast, Hananiah's prediction that the Temple treasures would return in two years did not come true. The Lord showed he remained in control.