⁵ A false prophet named Hananiah the son of Azzur presumed to speak in Jehovah’s name and specified, “two full years.” That could be only if by then Babylon was overthrown and Egypt returned to world power. By Hananiah’s prediction against Babylon he was bolstering up those who favored an international uprising against Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Thus this was against Jehovah’s decree and counsel as already declared by Jeremiah.

6. According to Jeremiah 28:8, 9, how did Hananiah’s prophecy differ from that of the prophets prior to Jeremiah himself?

⁶ Since Hananiah was raising false hopes for the land of Judah, Jeremiah closed his words of reply before all the priests and the people at the temple by saying: “As regards the prophets that happened to be prior to me and prior to you from long ago, they also used to prophesy concerning many lands and concerning great kingdoms, of war and of calamity and of pestilence. As regards the prophet that prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes true the prophet whom Jehovah has sent in truth will become known.”​—Jer. 28:1-9.

8. After Jeremiah’s reply, what dramatic action did Hananiah take, and what time prophecy did he then make?

⁸ The false prophet Hananiah must have had confidence in the success of an international uprising against Jehovah’s “servant,” for he now took dramatic action:

He “took the yoke bar from off the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke it. And Hananiah went on to say before the eyes of all the people: ‘This is what Jehovah has said, “Just like this I shall break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon within two full years more from off the neck of all the nations.”’”​—Jer. 28:10, 11.

9. What did Jehovah now tell Jeremiah to say about yoke bars, and why?

⁹ However, would such a prophecy come true just because of its being declared in Jehovah’s name? No! Jehovah could not do what Hananiah prophesied and at the same time fulfill the opposite prophecy of Jeremiah. Hence, international revolt against Jehovah’s announced “servant” was doomed! “Go,” said Jehovah later to Jeremiah, “and you must say to Hananiah, ‘This is what Jehovah has said: “Yoke bars of wood you have broken, and instead of them you will have to make yoke bars of iron.” For this is what Jehovah of armies, the God of Israel, has said: “A yoke bar of iron I will put upon the neck of all these nations, to serve Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon; and they must serve him. And even the wild beasts of the field I will give him.”’” (Jer. 28:12-14) Consequently, no international plot fomented by Hananiah could succeed. Moreover, in order for Jehovah to give “even the wild beasts of the field” into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand, Jehovah would turn over to him the lands of the international plotters.

THE RELIGIOUS RINGLEADER GETS HIS DESERTS

10. What action is the Jeremiah class authorized to take with regard to the clergy who, like Hananiah, support the international conspiracy against Jehovah?

¹⁰ Today Christendom’s clergy-prophets outspokenly back up the international conspiracy against Jehovah’s kingdom by his Christ. Jehovah’s Witnesses are not authorized to pronounce the death sentence upon any of them. But they can take up the inspired utterance of Jehovah and apply it against the clerical false prophets, who, as a class, were prefigured by Hananiah. So, here now let us read of Jeremiah’s prophetic action:

“And Jeremiah the prophet went on to say to Hananiah the prophet: ‘Listen, please, O Hananiah! Jehovah has not sent you, but you yourself have caused this people to trust in a falsehood. Therefore this is what Jehovah has said, “Look! I am sending you away from off the surface of the ground. This year you yourself must die, for you have spoken outright revolt against Jehovah.”’”​—Jer. 28:15, 16.

11. (a) How much longer did Hananiah last? (b) Of what are the clergy of Christendom likewise guilty, and so what must the Jeremiah class point out?

¹¹ Hananiah, the advocate of outright revolt against Jehovah by the international plotters, lasted about two months longer. “So Hananiah the prophet died in that year [614 B.C.E.], in the seventh month.” (Jer. 28:17, 1)