Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 28:17
So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.
17. in the seventh month ] i.e. within two months (see Jer 28:1).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 17. So Hananiah – died the same year in the seventh month.] The prophecy was delivered in the fifth month, (Jer 28:1,) and Hananiah died in the seventh month. And thus God, in mercy, gave him about two months, in which he might prepare to meet his Judge. Here, then the true prophet was demonstrated, and the false prophet detected. The death of Hananiah, thus predicted, was God’s seal to the words of his prophet; and must have gained his other predictions great credit among the people.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
That is, within the compass of a year after that Jeremiah had spoken these words, within two months after that Jeremiah had thus prophesied, as appeareth from Jer 28:1; so dangerous a thing it is for ministers to teach people contrary to the revealed will of God.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
So Hananiah the prophet died the same year,…. That he had delivered out his prophecy; in the same year in which Jeremiah said he should die; which proved him to be a false prophet, and Jeremiah to be a true one:
in the seventh month: it was two months after he had prophesied; for it was in the fifth month that he prophesied, and in the seventh he died; not after seven months, as Theodoret remarks, but in two months; so he that prophesied, that within two years what he foretold would come to pass, in two months time dies himself, according to the word of the Lord, and his prophecies die with him. The Jewish writers move a difficulty here, how he should be said to die the same year, when the seventh month was the beginning of another year; for the civil year of the Jews began from the seventh month, or the month Tisri; as their ecclesiastical year from the month Nisan or Abib. To solve this they observe a tradition, that he died the last day of the sixth month, or the eve of the new year; and ordered his sons and his servants, before his death, to hide it, and not bring him out to be buried till after the year was begun, to make Jeremiah a liar: to which agrees the Targum, both of the clause in Jer 28:16; and this; the former of which it paraphrases thus,
“this year shall thou die; and in the other year (or the year following) thou shalt be buried;”
and this verse thus,
“and Hananiah the false prophet died this year, and was buried in the seventh month:”
but there was no occasion to raise such a difficulty, since it would have been enough to have verified the prediction, that he died any time within the twelve months from the date of it; and, besides, the solution makes the difficulty greater, and contradicts the very text, which says, he died in the seventh month.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
All those who had disregarded Jeremiah saw, in a manner, before their eyes the judgment of God. No surer confirmation could have been expected by the Jews, had they a particle of understanding, than to see the impostor slain by the word of Jeremiah alone; for he never touched him with a finger, nor caused him to be led to punishment, though he deserved this; but he drove him out of the world by the mere sound of his tongue. As, then, the word of the holy Prophet had a celestial and divine power, as though God himself had fulminated from heaven, or with an armed hand had slain that ungodly man, how great was their blindness not to be moved! However, they were not moved; hence some of the Rabbins, wishing to conceal, as their manner is, the reproach of their own nation, imagine that the disciples of Hananiah secretly took away his body, and that then the people knew nothing of his death. But what need is there of such an evasion as this? for Jeremiah says no such thing, but speaks of the event as well known; it was indeed a sure testimony of his own call. It hence follows that it was not unknown to the Jews; and yet the devil had so blinded the greatest part of them, that they paid no more attention to the holy man than before; on the contrary, they wholly disregarded those threatenings of which he had been the witness and herald.
But how does this appear? the greatest part of the people often rose up against him as though he was the most wicked of men; he was accused as the betrayer of his country, and hardly escaped, through the clemency of. a cruel king, when he was cast into a dungeon as one half-dead. Since, then, the Jews thus pertinaciously raged, we hence understand what the Prophet so often threatened them with, even with the spirit of giddiness, and of fury, and of madness, and of stupor, and of drunkenness. Moreover, it was needful for that small portion which was not wholly irreclaimable to be restored to the right way; and this was done by this manifest proof of Jeremiah’s call. It was also necessary on the other hand that the unbelieving should be more restrained, so that they might be condemned by their own conscience, as Paul calls heretics self-condemned who were become fixed in their own perverseness, and had willingly and designedly sold themselves as slaves to the devil.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
This is but a short verse, but it is a most awful one. The Holy Ghost hath made a great emphasis of it. So Hananiah the prophet died. And not only the same year, but within two months from the time, that he taught rebellion against the Lord. Two years he had limited to the fulfillment of his lies. And two months only the Lord limited to the fulfillment of his iniquity. Reader! pause and ponder well the awfulness of such a character! See another such a death. Luk 16:22-23 .
REFLECTIONS
READER! Can any portion of God’s holy word speak more decidedly or more awfully, in determining between true and false Prophets and Teachers, than what is said in this Chapter.
Who that had been present at Hananiah’s message, as he solemnly prefaced, what he had to say in the name of the Lord, but would have taken part with him, leaning so much as it did to the side of mercy? And who but would have looked at Jeremiah with displeasure, as one that had been making the people sorrowful, with unnecessary alarms? But what an awful reverse of circumstances soon took place, to determine their true character. And are there not Hananiah’s in the present hour? Do not many come forth in the Lord’s name, whom the Lord never sent? And do not they cause men to trust in lies, saying, peace, peace, when there is no peace. Robbing the Redeemer of his glory, and precious souls of their true happiness: in bolstering sinners up in the false confidence of their own righteousness, instead of preaching Christ to the people?
Lord! do thou countenance all thy faithful Jeremiah’s of gospel times, and stop the mouths of them that run unsent, who speak smooth things, and prophecy deceits. Manifest the truth of thine own cause, and let not thy people be brought under their delusions: but give to all thy redeemed, Pastors after thine own heart, that may instruct and feed thy people with true understanding and knowledge.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jer 28:17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.
Ver. 17. So Hananiah died. ] Two months after this prediction, Jer 28:1 yet the people relented not, but persisted in their obstinace to the end. Such a sward, or rather hoof, is grown over some men’s hearts, as neither ministry, nor misery, nor miracle, nor mercy, can possibly mollify.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Jer 28:17
17So Hananiah the prophet died in the same year in the seventh month.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR CHAPTERS 27-29
This is a study guide commentary, whichmeans that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.
1. Why was Jeremiah so disliked?
2. Is all history really controlled by God? If so, think of the implications.
3. Why is man so obsessed with knowing and altering the future? Is this prevalent today?
4. Why is it that God’s spokesmen are always rejected by their contemporaries?
5. How do you know the false from the true prophets?
6. Did Hananiah really believe he was a prophet?
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
seventh month: i.e. two months after, instead of “two years” (Jer 28:3).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
seventh month
i.e. October.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Hananiah: Isa 44:25, Isa 44:26, Zec 1:6
the seventh month: The prophecy was delivered in the fifth month – Jer 29:1, and Hananiah died in the seventh month; exactly two months after he had delivered his false prophecy, which he declared, in the name of God, would be fulfilled in two years. Here then the true prophet was demonstrated, and the false prophet detected. The death of Hananiah, thus predicted, was God’s seal to the words of His prophet, and must have gained his other predictions great credit among the people; though it is evident that it did not induce them to forsake their sins and return to the God of Israel.
Reciprocal: Exo 9:5 – a set time Num 14:37 – died 1Sa 28:19 – and to morrow 1Ki 13:5 – General 1Ki 22:25 – Behold 2Ch 6:23 – requiting 2Ch 18:24 – Behold Jer 27:15 – ye
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 28:17. Hananiah died the 7th month of that year and the prediction of Jeremiah was made the 5th month (verse 1). thus bringing a prompt fulfillment of the sentence against this wicked man.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
28:17 So Hananiah the prophet {k} died the same year in the seventh month.
(k) Seeing this thing was evident in the eyes of the people and yet they returned not to the Lord, it is manifest that miracles cannot move us, neither the word itself, unless God touch the heart.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Sure enough, about two months later Hananiah died (cf. Jer 28:1; 2Ki 1:17; 2Ki 7:19-20; 2Ki 8:10-15; Eze 11:13; Act 5:1-11). The prophet who predicted deliverance in two years died in two months. God graciously gave him two months to repent before He put him to death. His death was another object lesson to the people on the importance of obeying God’s Word.
"In chapters 26-29 the deaths of four prophets are predicted and/or reported. Of the prophets named in these chapters, only Jeremiah survives to see the fulfillment of the prophecies given to him by the LORD." [Note: Scalise, p. 58.]