Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 1. Now these are the words of the letter] This transaction took place in the first or second year of Zedekiah. It appears that the propbet had been informed that the Jews who had already been carried into captivity had, through the instigations of false prophets, been led to believe that they were to be brought out of their captivity speedily.
Jeremiah, fearing that this delusion might induce them to take some hasty steps, ill comporting with their present state, wrote a letter to them, which he entrusted to an embassy which Zedekiah had sent on some political concerns to Nebuchadnezzar. The letter was directed to the elders, priests, prophets, and people who had been carried away captives to Babylon.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- A false prophet opposes Jeremiah. (Jer. 28:1-9) The false prophe warned of his approaching death. (Jer. 28:10-17)
Jer. 28:1-9 Hananiah spoke a false prophecy. Here is not a word of goo counsel urging the Jews to repent and return to God. He promise temporal mercies, in God's name, but makes no mention of the spiritual mercies which God always promised with earthly blessings. This was no the first time Jeremiah had prayed for the people, though he prophesie against them. He appeals to the event, to prove Hananiah's falsehood The prophet who spake only of peace and prosperity, without adding tha they must not by wilful sin stop God's favours, will be proved a fals prophet. Those who do not declare the alarming as well as the encouraging parts of God's word, and call men to repentance, and faith and holiness, tread in the steps of the false prophets. The gospel of Christ encourages men to do works meet for repentance, but gives n encouragement to continue in sin.
Jer. 28:10-17 Hananiah is sentenced to die, and Jeremiah, when he ha received direction from God, boldly tells him so; but not before he received that commission. Those have much to answer for, who tel sinners that they shall have peace, though they harden their hearts i contempt of God's word. The servant of God must be gentle to all men He must give up even his right, and leave the Lord to plead his cause Every attempt of ungodly men to make vain the purposes of God, will ad to their miseries _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ואלה428 דברי1697 הספר5612 אשׁר834 שׁלח7971 ירמיה3414 הנביא5030 מירושׁלם3389 אל413 יתר3499 זקני2205 הגולה1473 ואל413 הכהנים3548 ואל413 הנביאים5030 ואל413 כל3605 העם5971 אשׁר834 הגלה1540 נבוכדנאצר5019 מירושׁלם3389 בבלה׃894
