1And it came to pass the same year , in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah , in the fourth year , in the fifth month , that Hananiah the son of Azzur , the prophet , who was of Gibeon , spake unto me in the house of Jehovah , in the presence of the priests and of all the people , saying, 2Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts , the God of Israel , saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of Jehovah ’s house , that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place , and carried to Babylon: 4and I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim , king of Judah , with all the captives of Judah , that went to Babylon, saith Jehovah ; for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.
Jeremiah's Response to Hananiah
5Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests , and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of Jehovah , 6even the prophet Jeremiah said , Amen: Jehovah do so ; Jehovah perform thy words which thou hast prophesied , to bring again the vessels of Jehovah ’s house , and all them of the captivity , from Babylon unto this place . 7Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people : 8The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied against many countries, and against great kingdoms , of war , and of evil , and of pestilence . 9The prophet that prophesieth of peace , when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known , that Jehovah hath truly sent him .
The Symbolic Act of the Yoke
10Then Hananiah the prophet took the bar from off the prophet Jeremiah ’s neck , and brake it . 11And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people , saying, Thus saith Jehovah : Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon within two full years from off the neck of all the nations . And the prophet Jeremiah went his way . 12Then the word of Jehovah came unto Jeremiah , after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the bar from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah , saying , 13Go , and tell Hananiah , saying, Thus saith Jehovah : Thou hast broken the bars of wood ; but thou hast made in their stead bars of iron . 14For thus saith Jehovah 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 field also .
The Consequences of False Prophecy
15Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet , Hear now , Hananiah : Jehovah hath not sent thee ; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie . 16Therefore thus saith Jehovah , Behold , I will send thee away from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die , because thou hast spoken rebellion against Jehovah . 17So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month .