And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
That same year, at the beginning of King Zedekiah's reign over Judah—it was the fourth year, in the fifth month—a prophet named Hananiah, son of Azur from Gibeon, spoke to me in the LORD's temple. The priests and all the people were there listening.
This verse sets the scene for a public confrontation between two prophets in God's temple during a specific time in Judah's history.
📚 Historical Context
This occurred around 594-593 BC during the reign of Zedekiah, Judah's last king before the Babylonian exile. Jeremiah had been prophesying that Judah should submit to Babylon, while false prophets like Hananiah were telling people what they wanted to hear—that God would quickly break Babylon's power. The temple was the center of religious and political life, making it a significant location for this prophetic showdown.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.