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Prophecy

Hananiah against Jeremiah: two years or a long captivity (Jeremiah 28–29)

Jeremiah wearing the yoke before King Zedekiah, artist’s impression by Christoffel van Sichem (engraving, 1645-1646) — the yoke that Hananiah will break (Jer 28:10).
Artist’s impression Jeremiah wearing the yoke before King Zedekiah, artist’s impression by Christoffel van Sichem (engraving, 1645-1646) — the yoke that Hananiah will break (Jer 28:10). — Christoffel van Sichem II and III (woodcut) — Rijksmuseum, Wikimedia Commons · CC0

◐ Written shortly before or at the time: it cannot be decided

Written c. 594–593 BC according to tradition; 594–540 BC according to historians. Event: 592–539 BC.

See the full entry: sources, objections, answers

In short

The announcement. In the book of Jeremiah, around 594/593 BC, the prophet Hananiah announces that the deportees will return from Babylon within two years. The prophet Jeremiah contradicts him and announces a long captivity.

What happened. In 592/591 BC, just as Hananiah's deadline runs out, a tablet from the palace of Babylon shows the deported king Jehoiachin still captive with his sons. Judeans remain settled in Babylonia, and Babylonian rule only ends in 539 BC.

What is still debated. Hananiah is known only from his opponent's book, and predicting a long captivity in 594 BC was the most cautious bet.

What would be striking if the text came first

The book of Jeremiah keeps the opposing voice, which spoke in the name of the same God, and the disagreement was about a verifiable date. The Babylonian tablets prove Jeremiah right, even if the account may have been written after 586.

Main objection (in French for now)

Hanania n’est connu que par le livre de son adversaire : le récit est celui du vainqueur, mis en forme quand l’échec d’Hanania était connu.

The text (World English Bible)

because he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, The captivity is long. Build houses, and dwell in them. Plant gardens, and eat their fruit?”’”

Jer 29:28

“Build houses and dwell in them. Plant gardens and eat their fruit.

Jer 29:5

Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! The LORD has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie. Therefore the LORD says, ‘Behold, I will send you away from off the surface of the earth. This year you will die, because you have spoken rebellion against the LORD.’”

Jer 28:15-16

Sources