Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 28:1

1 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 moneth, 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 ,

Here is a great appearing difficulty, viz. how the fourth year, could be called the beginning of Zedekiahs Reign, who reigned in all but eleven years which if they be divided into three parts, the fourth year can hardly be in any propriety called the beginning of his Reign. Many things are said to untie this knot which by such as are curious may be read both in the English Annotations, and in Mr. Pools Synopsis, I shall only repeat what seemed to both them, and seemeth also to me the best solution. Though it be said in the fourth year, yet it is not said, in the fourth year of Zedekiahs reign; they therefore think, that the fourth year of the sabbatical course is here intended. The Iews had a kind of Jubilee every 7th. year, it was a year when the land was to rest and not be tilled, Lev. 25, 1, 2, 3, 4. and in that year they were to release their Debtors and Servants, Deut. 15.1. which notion of this fourth year is very probable, if the year wherein the City was besieged was a Sabbatical year or year of rest. For if Zedekiahs first year were the fourth of the seven that made the Sabbatical circle, his third year was another sabbatical year, and his tenth ano[illegible: 1 letter]her, presently after which the City was taken.

Of this Hananiah we read no more in Scripture, it is probable from the place where he lived, which was one of the Cities of the Priests that he was a Priest, but no more then a pretended Prophet.

He comes to Ieremy in the Temple, where he was wont to deliver his Prophesies to confront him in the presence both of the Priests and the people, saying.