Isaiah in the Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 19 Isaiah 9

2 Nephi 19 or Isaiah 9

Jeff Bushman Aug 2017

Chapter 19

Isaiah speaks messianically—The people in darkness will see a great light—Unto us a child is born—He will be the Prince of Peace and will reign on David’s throne—Compare Isaiah 9. About 559–545 B.C.

These next two (19&20) chapters seem to continue the theme of being both a messianic discourse and the threat of Assyria.

1 ^aNevertheless, the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at first (Rabbibical commentators relate this to the attacks by Assyria under Tiglath-pileser and Sargon II) he lightly afflicted the ^bland of ^cZebulun, and the land of ^dNaphtali, and afterwards did more grievously afflict by the way of the Red Sea beyond Jordan in Galilee of the nations. Verse one is just a continuation of the previous chapter.  The pronoun her has reference to Israel or the 10 tribes with Assyria (the he) has attacked them and afflicted two of the tribes mentioned which lived close to the sea of Galilee in their first attack and then afterwards Isaiah talks about a future attack that will involve the Galilee area.  

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2 The people that walked in darkness (dimness and darkness were apostasy and captivity) have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light(the great light is Christ see v6-7) shined.  According to many scholars these next few verses can have several meanings. (1) the darkness can be Assyria and the light can be the righteousness of King Hezekiah who along with Isaiah have helped save Judah. (2) The darkness can be the people who were wicked and then saw the light and repented and had the Lord’s help in destroying the Assyrians. (3 )The darkness can be apostasy and then Christ will come down to teach his own people.  All of these three can be correct.

3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and ^aincreased the joy—they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and (or and increased the joy to him) as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.  1) because of King Hezekiah’s righteousness the Assyrian army is destroyed and their tents spoiled.  Like what happened when Gideon was Israel’s judge and participated in the defeat of the Midianites.  Verse 5 would be the Assyrian destruction and verses 6&7 would reference Hezekiah.

(2) If the nation turns from wickedness to righteous then their joy is full in this verse, 4&5 would be the defeat of their enemies and 6&7 would be a time of peace possibly brought by a Messiah.

(3). If this is about Christ verse 3 talks about blessing from the Lord for his many followers, verse 4 Christ overcoming Satan. Verse 5 would be Christ’s atonement and his cleansing power, 6 would declare Christ’s many titles and responsibilities, and 7 would explain his position and responsibilities.  As members of the church we like the 3^rd approach to these verses.

4 For thou hast broken the yoke( bondage, spiritual) of ^ahis burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his ^boppressor.  3) The one we like  “Christ overcoming Satan.” And overcoming and maintaining power over the legions of Satan’s angels.

5 (HEB When the whole battle. . . was with confused noise, and . . .blood) For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but ^athis shall be with burning (The cleansing of the earth by fire prior to Christ setting up his kingdom) and fuel of fire.  3)  Would be Christ’s atonement and his cleansing power of baptism and the Holy Ghost

6 For unto us a ^achild (Christ’s birth) is born, unto us (the house of Israel) a son is given(Christ is a divine sonship); and the ^bgovernment (power and authority) shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The ^cMighty (powerful) God, The ^dEverlasting Father, The Prince of ^ePeace.  3) One we  like, Would declare Christ’s many titles and roles

7 Of the increase of ^agovernment and peace ^bthere is no end, upon the throne of ^cDavid (Descendant of David, right to rule), and upon his kingdom to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this. 3) One we like, would explain his position and responsibilities as Lord and King of this earth.

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Assyria has already take control of Israel and removed some of the leading citizens as captives to Assyria. In 732 took many portions of Zebulon and Naphtali were deported.  Still Israel refused to understand the prophecies are take place and won’t turn to the Lord.

8 The Lord sent his word unto Jacob and it hath lighted upon Israel. The Lord seems to turn this message against Israel, and give 4 warnings for their wickedness from verse 8 through chapter 20:4.  Each of these warnings ends with the same phrase, “but his hand is stretched out still.” I still have power to save if you don’t want to suffer more.

1^st Warning to verse 12

9 And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart:

10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn ^astones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into ^bcedars.  Israel or Samaria was about all that would be left after Assyria but they were so proud they boast and say, we will rebuild and will be greater than before..

11 Therefore the Lord shall set up the adversaries of ^aRezin (Syria) against him, and join his enemies together;  So the Lord raises up adversaries against them, and stirs up their enemies.  RSV

12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; and they shall ^adevour Israel with open mouth. For all this his ^banger is not turned away, but his hand ( IE in spite of all, the Lord is available if they will turn to him) is stretched out still.

2^nd Warning to verse 17

Now Isaiah describes why their leaders will be taken away and allowed suffering to occur.

13 For the people turneth not unto ^ahim that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of Hosts.  They will rebel against Assyria and also the Lord

14 Therefore will the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush ^ain one day.  Their leaders, see v 15   Also branch palm branch and reed

15 The ^aancient ( or elder and man of rank), he is the head; and the prophet (false prophets) that teacheth lies, he is the tail.

16 For the ^aleaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are ^bled of them are destroyed. RSV for those who lead this people lead them astray, and those who are led by them are swallowed up.

17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have ^amercy on their fatherless and ^bwidows; for ^cevery one of them is a hypocrite and an ^devildoer, and every mouth speaketh ^efolly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his ^fhand is stretched out still.

3^rd Warning to verse 21  It seems to describe their sins and the consequences.  Ludlow describes it this way.  “These verses describe the consuming wrath of the Lord, yet the people are so selfish that they continue to grasp whatever they can in the chaos.”

18 For ^awickedness burneth as the fire; it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forests, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke. RSV and they shall roll upward like a column of smoke

19 Through the wrath of the Lord of Hosts is the ^aland darkened (RSV burned), and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire; ^bno man shall spare his brother. No man spared his brother RSV These people are wicked and this part shows their injustice toward the weak and needy, this carries over to other verses.

20 And he ^ashall snatch on the right hand and be hungry; and he shall ^beat on the left hand and they shall not be satisfied; they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm— RSV They snatch on the right, but are still hungry, and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; each devour his neighbor’s flesh.  These people seem to be greedy and desire what others have, but when they get them they are never satisfied with what they have taken from others.

21 Manasseh, ^aEphraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh; they together shall be against ^bJudah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. RSV together they are against Judah. Israel has oppressed the poor who had no one to protect them and Israel will have the same thing happen to them (no help from the Lord). Only through repentance will the Lord stretch forth his hand to save otherwise his hand will bring destruction through Assyria.