Against determined opposition Jeremiah stood firmly for the policy of submission. Prominent among those who presumed to gainsay the counsel of the Lord was Hananiah, 445 one of the false prophets against whom the people had been warned. Thinking to gain the favor of the king and of the royal court, he lifted his voice in protest, declaring that God had given him words of encouragement for the Jews. Said he: "Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the Lord's house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon: and I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the Lord: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon." Jeremiah 28:2-4.

Til trods for heftig modstand holdt Jeremias fast ved, at man skulle underkaste sig. En af dem, som talte mest energisk imod Herrens ord, var Hananja. Han var en af de falske profeter, som folket var blevet advaret imod. For at vinde kongens og hoffets gunst protesterede han højlydt over for Jeremias og sagde, at Herren havde givet ham et opmuntrende budskab til jøderne. Han sagde: "Så siger Hærskarers Herre, Israels Gud: Jeg har sønderbrudt Babels konges åg. Om to år fører jeg tilbage hertil alle Herrens hus kar, som Nebukadnezar af Babel tog herfra og førte til Babel; og Jojakims søn, kong Jekonja af Juda, og alle de landflygtige fra Juda, som kom til Babel, fører jeg tilbage hertil, lyder det fra Herren; thi jeg sønderbryder Babels konges åg." Jer. 28,2-4.