Глава 28

1–11. Prediction and symbolic action performed by the prophet Ananias. 12–17. Jeremiah's response to this prediction. Jeremiah 28:1–11. In contrast to Jeremiah, who claimed that the Babylonian captivity would last 70 years, a certain Ananias from Gibeon began to say that something else had been revealed to him by God, namely, that this captivity would last only two years, and that after two years even King Jeconiah would return from captivity. Jeremiah responded to this by saying that Ananias could be recognized as a true prophet only when his prophecy came true. Then the irritated Ananias broke the yoke that Jeremiah was wearing. Jer.28:1. In the same year, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, Hananiah the son of Azur, the prophet of Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the Lord in the presence of the priests and all the people, and said: Ananias, as coming from the priestly city of Gibeon, was probably a priest himself. Jer.28:6. and Jeremiah the prophet said: So be it, may the Lord do it! May the Lord fulfill your words that you spoke about the return from Babylon of the vessels of the house of the Lord and all the captives to this place! Jeremiah wants to say: “It would be nice if your prediction actually came true!” It was difficult for Jeremiah himself to predict the 70-year captivity of his people. Jer.28:8. the prophets who were long ago before me and before you predicted war and disaster and pestilence to many lands and great kingdoms. Jeremiah here proves the truth of the calling of the prophet by the fact that the prophet says something unpleasant to the listeners and thereby exposes himself to danger. This means that the action of the Spirit of God was already great, forcing the prophets to speak in such a tone, if they did speak! From this we can conclude that they were true messengers of God. Jer.28:9. If any prophet predicted peace, then only he was recognized as the prophet whom the Lord truly sent when the word of that prophet came true. Moses (Deut. 18.22) commanded that a famous person be recognized as a prophet only when any of his prophecies come true. Jeremiah 28:12–17. Jeremiah receives a command from God to announce to Ananias that he will have to wear an iron one instead of the broken wooden yoke. Those nations that listen to Hananiah and rebel against Nebuchadnezzar will suffer even more severely at his hand. Ananias, for his lies, must soon die. This prediction about Ananias was fulfilled that same year. Jer.28:13. Go and tell Hananiah, Thus says the Lord: You have broken the yoke of wood, and you will make a yoke of iron in its place. Hananiah's breaking of the yoke was an indirect call for rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar. It is for this uprising that Nebuchadnezzar will impose an even heavier yoke on the Jews and other peoples allied to them. Jer.28:16. Therefore thus says the Lord: Behold, I will cast you off the face of the earth; this same year you will die because you spoke contrary to the Lord. Hananiah, who speaks falsely in the name of Jehovah, is legally doomed to death (Deut. 13.1–5). You might be interested in: