Dear RTB’ers,
A first comment… I have often suggested that you read the “See also” material. I particularly suggest that you read those items when we are reading these Old Testament prophets. I have never posted comments over most of the Old Testament, but John covered the entire Bible in 2023. His comments are noteworthy, so please read those “See also…” comments.
Yesterday and in previous chapters we have seen Jeremiah predicting doom for Jerusalem and Judah and its leaders and people. In today’s first chapter we see Jeremiah also predicting doom for Judah’s neighbors – Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon. Presumably these nations had come together with Judah to rebel against Babylon and were trusting in their own power and that of other nations to see Babylon defeated. Jeremiah tells these neighbors that they will also come under the yoke of Babylon and that they should submit to Babylon and remain in their lands. Failing that, they would become servants of the king of Babylon in his lands: For it is a lie that they are prophesying to you, with the result that you will be removed far from your land, and I will drive you out, and you will perish. But any nation that will bring its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will leave on its own land, to work it and dwell there, declares the LORD. (vv. 27:10-11) The chapter continues with the same message for King Zedekiah and the priests and people of Judah.
Chapter 28 is a stand-alone story of Hananiah, the false prophet. He predicts that Babylon will fall and that all the Temple treasures that had been taken to Babylon would be returned to Jerusalem within two years. Instead he is confronted by Jeremiah and he dies in two months. Bottom line – if you think that you have a word from the Lord, make sure of your source!!
Blessings.
See also: