Hananiah’s False Prophecy

1And it came to pass in that year, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azzur prophet, who was from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of YHWH before the face of the priests and all the people, saying: 2“Thus says YHWH of Hosts, the God of Israel, saying: ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3Within two years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the house of YHWH that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon. 4And Jeconiah† son of Jehoiakim the king of Judah and all the captives of Judah who went to Babylon I will bring back to this place’—a declaration of YHWH—‘For I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon!’”

5And Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Hananiah the prophet before the face of the priests and before the face of all the people who stood in the house of YHWH, 6and Jeremiah the prophet said: “Amen! So may YHWH do it! May YHWH perform your words that you have prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the house of YHWH, and all the captive, from Babylon to this place.”

7Nevertheless, hear now this word that I am speaking in your ears and in the ears of all the people. 8The prophets who have been before me and before you from of old, even they prophesied to many lands and over great kingdoms regarding war and disaster and pestilence. 9The prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, that prophet will be known as one whom YHWH truly has sent.

10And Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke it. 11And Hananiah spoke before the face of all the people, saying: “Thus says YHWH—‘Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon within two full years from the neck of all the nations!’”

And Jeremiah the prophet went on his way. 12And came the word of YHWH to Jeremiah) After Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet), saying: 13“Go and speak to Hananiah, saying: Thus says YHWH—‘You have broken yokes of wood, and you have fashioned in their place yokes of iron!

14For thus says YHWH of Hosts, the God of Israel: ‘A yoke of iron I have put on the neck of all these nations, to serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they shall serve him. And also I have given the beast of the field to him.’”

15And Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah the prophet: “Hear now, Hananiah! YHWH has not sent you, and you have made this people to trust in a lie! 16Therefore, thus says YHWH: ‘Behold, I am going to cast you from the face of the earth. This year you will die, because you have taught rebellion against YHWH.’”

17And Hananiah the prophet died in that year, in the seventh month.