errore. He has not the least fear of plunging into the greatest responsibilities witl1 regard to definite predictions. He passes from the ground of mere expostulations and remonstrances, and ventures on statements which in a very short time must elther make him or ruin him. Let us learn from our enemies, and labour to be confident and determined in our assertion of truth, seeing there is no lack of determination on the part of those who have cast in their lot with error. · II. HANANIAR's PERSISTKNCE. It is very noticeable that Jeremiah does not meet him in anything of an angry or denouncing manner. It would have well pleased the true prophet to see the predictions of the false prophet brought about; for it is made abundantly evident that the sufferings of his country were an unspeakable grief to Jeremiah. An angry reply served no good purpose. The true prophet could manifest a dignified patience, and leave time to vindicate both the validity of hie prophetic claim and his fidelity in speaking the truth. Meantime, he can only recommend Hananiah to consider well the lessons of history, and how the prophets of old had spoken of stern dealings with many wicked nations. Unfortunately, bad men are hardly ever discriminating students of history. Hananiah was here given an oppor- tunity of repentance, if only he had chosen to avail him~elfo! it. But so full was he of his own devices that gentle treatment only increased his audacity, and he ·drew public attention more than ever to himself by removing the symbolic yoke from Jeremiah's neck. That he was allowed to do all this should teach us a lesson of pa.tience and trust when we see wicked men pursuing, undisturbed, their chosen path. They are only climbing higher that their ultimate ruin may become more· widely manifest. • • IIL li.ANANIAH's DOOM. The firs'!; result of his presumptuous conduct is to bring a more emphatic prophecy with regard to the captives. The second is to bring a sentence of death on the false prophet himself. He who has dealt rashly with the ordering of times and seasons is to know by a bitter experience that God has these times and seasons in his own hands. He is to die-within the year. Notice the sin which he is charged with committing. He is doomed to -death, not simply for, the falsehood or the profanity, but for this, that he had taught rebellion against-Jehovah. His words were an incitement to make a•useless and premature attempt at liberation. God's prediction with regard to the captivity in Babylon had in it the nature of a command. IV. li.ANAl>"IA.H'e DEA.TB. It came very quickly. Two months at the outside· was the space between the utterance of a false rebellious statement and the- confirming· of a true one. The death came at such an interval as was very impressive. Compare the relations between Jeremiah and Hananiah here with those between Peter and Ananias, Both H&na.n.iah and Ananias dealt presumptuously with the holiest of things.-Y.
EXPOSITION. mentioned, and a terrible fate is held out to CHAPTER XXIX. them. The appendix (vers. 24-92) deals Despised and rejected at home, Jeremiah with another prophet of the same type, who turned ld.s thoughts to those distant brethren had not, indeed, offended so deeply a:s his in captivity, whom he had already likened to companions, but had stirred up those at '' good figs, very good" (eh. xxiv. 3, 5). He home to persecute Jeremiah in revenge for bad heard with sorrow that they could not the preceding letter. readily submit to their altered circumstances; The.chapter is evidently, what it professes J ude.h, with its consecrated associations, was to be, a letter, at any rate in substo.nce. From still too near to them in spirit. Probably a the looseness of its structure (see especio.lly rumour of the expected confederacy (eh. on vers. 16-20)it has been thought to have x.xvii. 3) had troubled their minds, and the been dictated, like those Epistles of St. Paul, discontent was increased by the pernicious of whioh it may be regarded as a precursor diseomses of prophets and soothsayers similar (Ewald). The date seems to be a little to that Hananiah of whom we have just earlier than that of the two preceding heard. Two of these in particular are chapters (comp. ver. 2 with oh. xxiv. I) ; OB. xx1x. 1-32.] 'l'HE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. 587