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.
______________Theme______________
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 3rd
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.
______________Theme______________
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.
1st 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.
2nd 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.
3rd 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.
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