Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.

“Here he descends specifically to certain false prophets: and first to a certain one who was foretelling to those left in Jerusalem; second to certain ones who were prophesying to the captives in Babylon, chapter 29: "and these are the words of the book which Jeremiah the prophet sent." Concerning the first, two things. First the false consolation of the false prophet is set forth; second the refutation of the falsehood through Jeremiah, at "and the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah." Concerning the first, two things. First is set forth the false consolation which the false prophet made by word; second that which he made by deed, at "and Hananiah the prophet took the chain from the neck of Jeremiah." Concerning the first, two things. First the false consolation is set forth; second Jeremiah's response, at "and Jeremiah said," etc. Concerning the first, two things. First he sets down the title of the false prophecy, in which is designated the time: "in the fourth year"; the prophet: "Hananiah the prophet," by repute; the place: "in the house of the Lord." Above, 23: "in my house I have found their evil, says the Lord." Second he sets down the false word of consolation: "thus says the Lord": and first he promises liberty: "I have broken, I have destroyed": on account of the certainty it is said in the past tense: the dominion, which indeed was to be broken, but not then. Isaiah 10: "the yoke shall rot away because of the oil." Second he foretells the nearness of the fulfillment: "yet two years of days," lest they be believed to be years of years, as that word of Ezekiel 4: "a day for a year, a day, I say, for a year I have given you." And first as to the bringing back of the vessels: "and I will cause to be brought back to this place all the vessels of the Lord," concerning whose capture, Lamentations 1: "the enemy has put out his hand upon all her desirable things," etc. Second as to the liberation of its princes, and of Jechoniah, against what was said above in the preceding chapter. Above, 22: "land, land, land, hear the word of the Lord."”

“Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,.... Using the language of the true prophets, and describing the Lord just in the same manner they do, when coming from him, and speaking in his name: a bold and daring action, when he knew the Lord had not sent him, nor had said any such thing to him: he next relates with all assurance, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon; which he had put upon the neck of the king of Judah; signifying that he should be no more subject to him; that is, he had determined to do it, and would do it, in a very short time.”