COMMENTARY

Jeremiah 28:1-9
Hananiah, a prophet, contradicts Jeremiah's prophecy of doom. Jeremiah is confronted by Hananiah, a prophet from Gibeon, in the temple. It is a dramatic scene with Jeremiah's wearing a yoke to symbolize the coming bondage of Judah to Babylon. To Jeremiah in the presence of the priests and people, Hananiah tells Jeremiah that Babylon will be defeated and within two years the king, exiles, and the temple treasures will be returned to Jerusalem. Sarcastically Jeremiah says "Amen" to that, but he points out that the prophets in the past pronounced doom for a nation of wickedness and idolatry. If a prophet preaches peace, time will tell whether he is a true prophet. The people are left with the question which of the two is a true prophet, the one with bad news or th…