Jeremiah 28:1-14

That same year, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fifth month of the fourth year, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, a Gibeonite, spoke to me in the temple of YAHWEH in the presence of the priests and of all the people: “YAHWEH, the God of Israel, the Commander of Angel Armies, says, ‘I have shattered the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two years, I will return all the temple treasures of YAHWEH that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon carried off from here and took to Babylon. And I will also bring back Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles of Judah who have gone to Babylon.’ For YAHWEH declares, ‘I will shatter the yoke of the king of Babylon.’ ” Then Jeremiah the prophet replied to Hananiah the prophet in front of the priests and all the people who had come to worship at the temple of YAHWEH. “So be it! May he fulfill the words that you have prophesied and return all the temple treasures of YAHWEH and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon. Nevertheless, listen to this word that I speak to you and the people: From ancient times, the prophets who preceded you and me prophesied war, disaster, and plague against many countries and great kingdoms. But when a prophet prophesies peace, wait to see if his words come true; then you will have proof that YAHWEH had truly sent him.” All at once, the prophet Hananiah snatched the yoke off Jeremiah’s neck and broke it. And in front of all the people, Hananiah said, “Hear the word of YAHWEH: ‘Just as I broke this yoke, so YAHWEH will free all the nations from the power of King Nebuchadnezzar within two years.’ ” At this, the prophet Jeremiah walked away. After the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke around Jeremiah’s neck, YAHWEH gave Jeremiah this message: “Go back and inform Hananiah, ‘YAHWEH has told me that, indeed, you have broken wooden bars only to forge iron bars in their place. For YAHWEH, the God of Israel, Commander of Angel Armies, says: I now lay on the necks of all these nations a heavy iron yoke to enslave them to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. They will be enslaved to him; I will even make the wild animals serve him!’ ”