1And it came to pass the same year , in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah , in the fourth year , and in the fifth month , that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet , which was of Gibeon , spake unto me in the house of the LORD , in the presence of the priests and of all the people , saying , 2Thus speaketh the LORD 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 the LORD’s house , that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place , and carried them 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 into Babylon , saith the LORD : 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 the LORD , 6Even the prophet Jeremiah said , Amen : the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied , to bring again the vessels of the LORD’s house , and all that is carried away captive , from Babylon into 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 both against many countries , and against great kingdoms , of war , and of evil , and of pestilence . 9The prophet which prophesieth of peace , when the word of the prophet shall come to pass , then prophet be known , that the LORD hath truly sent him.
The Symbolic Act of the Yoke
10Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah’s neck , and brake it. 11And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people , saying , Thus saith the LORD ; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years . And the prophet Jeremiah went his way . 12Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet , after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah , saying , 13Go and tell Hananiah , saying , Thus saith the LORD ; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood ; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron . 14For thus saith the LORD 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 ; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie . 16Therefore thus saith the LORD ; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth : this year thou shalt die , because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD . 17So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month .