The amazement of the assembled council of nations knew no bounds when Jeremiah, carrying the yoke of subjection about his neck, made known to them the will of God. But Hananiah, one of the false prophets against whom God had warned His people through Jeremiah, lifted up his voice in opposition to the prophecy declared. Wishing to gain the favor of the king and his court, he affirmed that God had given him words of encouragement for the Jews. Said he: “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.” {4T 170.1}

(170) Nationernes forsamlede råd forbavsedes og kendte ingen bånd da Jeremias, bærende på underlæggelsens åg på sin hals, gjorde Guds vilje dem bekendt. Men Hananja, en af de falske profeter, Gud havde advaret imod gennem Jeremias, opløftede sin røst imod den profeti der var lydt. Med ønske om at få kongens og hans råds gunst, påstod han at Gud havde givet ham opmuntrende ord til jøderne. Han sagde: »Om to år fører jeg tilbage hertil alle Herrens hus' kar, som kong 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."