Old Testament & Book of Mormon Commentary
- Isaiah 2 / 2 Nephi 12

by Don R. Hender

Why Isaiah, Nephi?

Why did Nephi quote so many of the chapters of Isaiah in his small plates record? Isaiah was the prophet of the scattering of Israel. He warned that Israel, even Judah, would be destoryed and scattered and why they would be so scattered. He also told of the latter days of the regathering of Israel and what they Lord would do for the people in that day. Lehi and his family, particularly Nephi, was in the midst of those times of scattering. The northern kingdom had been destoryed and scattered, Isaiah had foretold that and warned the Jews beginning with King Ahaz what they must do to so avoid being destroyed and 'scattered' also. In Lehi's day the Jews were in violation of the prophets' warnings and Jerusalem was also about to be destroyed and carried off and scattered. Nephi's people were a part of the scattering though they like the Jaredites of old were so led and scattered by the kind hand of the Lord, they were so being scattereed and Nephi felt that the best source of the information concering 'scattered Israel' and what their fate was to become in the future was Isaiah, God's prophet of the scattering of Israel and their eventual regathering. Nephi also understood that not only his people, his mixed seed with the seed of his brothers, would in the latter days read and need to have an understanding of the scattering and gathering of Israel, but that that Israel which was grafted into the nations of the earth, the nations of the Gentiles; they would also need to know and understand the 'doctrine' and particulars about the scattering and the restoration and regathering of Israel in the latter days, and Nephi knew that Isaiah had spoken concerning this very thing. And thus did Nephi quote Isaiah. And if we look to the writings of Isaiah as Nepih intended, that we might come to see and understanding the processes and wheres and whys of the scattering and gathering of Israel and apply them unto ourselves, great will be the words of understanding unto us of Isaiah, which were the words given Isaiah by the Lord. Isaiah paints an essential summary overview of the highlights of necessary understanding in respect to the scattering and gathering of Israel the also the particulars of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Lord in the flesh during the midst of those times as well as his coming in the latter day when Israel would be gathered and God's salvation would be theirs.
Now in fact this is a very particular theme throughout the Book of Mormon of Israel being destoryed and scattered, the Lord coming, Israel being gathered and restored and the Lord coming again. Other prophets also quoted in the Book of Mormon have so given perspectives of this scattering and gathereing such as Zenos' Allegory of the Olive Tree given in Jacob 5 and referenced to as early as Lehi himself speaking of Israel being compared unto an Olive tree. The details of this theme, particularly those dealing with the latter day events are most instructive to us to day. They stand as warnings and guidelines as to what we today must do in this latter day of gathering and restoration to effect our own safety and salvation in the Lord.

There has been a long standing discussion as to whether Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery consulted the King James Bible when the prophets of the Book of Mormon did indicated that they were writing the words of Isaiah into many parts of the Book of Mormon. There seems to be a simple answer to this question in the answer 'YES'. And why wouldn't they have done this? Oliver had been told that his failure to translate was due to the fact that he just presumed it would be 'given' unto him when he took no thought other than to ask. He was told that he 'must study it out' and then ask. This seems to be the process on the Isaiah chapters. There was already a 'good' source upon the Isaiah chapters available, they were to be studied in relation to their translation in comparision to a 'good' translation of the Isaiah chapters from the gold plates which Nephi and Mormon had writen. IF that translation was adequate to be used for the Lord's purposes in it, it would be impressed upon Joseph Smith that it was a 'good' translation. (See D&C 9:7-8). If no such impression came, then it would require that Joseph use the Urim and Thummim to discern what the Lord would have him change in it. How we can tell that Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery simply used the King James Version of the Isaiah chapters is that the King James Bible contains 'italicized' words, they were word supplied by the translators of the King James version according to their translation to make the 'literal' translation more understandable according to their understanding and interpretation of it. Much of the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon simply utilize these added italic words as a part of the Book of Mormon's rendition. Thus they did adopt the King James translators' added words without rendering their own 'literal' translation from the Golden Plates, which had taken Isaiah's records from the Egyptian language of the Plates of Brass. Thus the Lord has shown an acceptance for the King James Translation with such added italic words as a 'good' or 'addequate' translation in most cases. Only in a few instances did Joseph Smith receive the impression from the Lord that the translation needed to be changed from the King James Version. This does not mean that the Book of Mormon translation of Isaiah is precisesly correct from the brass plates written in Ancient Egyptian or the Golden Plates, written in 'Reformed Egyptian'. If one was to spend the time to translate directly from them, giving a literal translation, it would certainly be that translation would differ somewhat from the many adoptions of the King James Version which the Lord allowed Joseph and Oliver to persue as a matter of expediting the translation of the Book of Mormon. One might consider that where the Lord did not change the published Book of Mormon Isaiah from the King James Isaiah, which might have been rendered more plainly if through Joseph Smith and the Urim and Thummim, might be wisdom in the Lord to do as he intended in the days of Isaiah, to not give such a full understanding as to 'hide' it until it is so fulfilled and from those who do not have the accompanying spirit to understand by the spirit.

Scriptural Text [Isaiah 2] Scriptural Text [2 Nephi 12] Footnotes ~ References ~ JST

            CHAPTER 2
Isaiah sees the latter-day temple, gathering of Israel, and Millennial judgment and peace—The proud and wicked shall be brought low at the Second Coming—Compare 2 Nephi 12.
             CHAPTER 12
Isaiah sees the latter-day temple, gathering of Israel, and millennial judgement and peace—The proud and wicked shall be brought low at the Second Coming—Compare Isaiah 2. [Between 559 and 545 B.C.]
We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory. ~ AofF #10

1 THE word that ^aIsaiah the son of Amoz ^bsaw concerning Judah and Jerusalem^a.

Judah and Jerusalem Isaiah, from his perspective, many have actually written 'Judah and Jerusalem'. But a much better universal rendering would have been 'Israel and Jerusalem'. For sure the vision was concerning all of the Lord's people who had been named and called 'Israel'. That meaning they who follow and prevail in the Lord of the children of God. The same is the matter of the name Jerusalem of 'Congregation of Peace' or the 'City of God'. Even from the beginning, that is in the preexistence were the names and terms known of 'Isreal' and 'Jerusalem' to be used in referencing the valiant spirits who did follow after and were counted as the Lord's. One such use is in Zechariah chapter 3 verse 2 where it is proclaimed that God the Father had chosen 'Jerusalem', that is those who followed after Jehoshua (Jehovah the Redeemer). (See Zechariah 3 commentary) 1 ^aTHE word that Isaiah, the son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem^a:
1^a concerning Judah and Jerusalem Nephi has just stated that the words of Isaiah 'may be liken unto you and unto all men' (2 Nephi 11:8). While the compiler of the Old Testament states here that they are concerning Judah and Jerusalem, from the persective of the Jews likening them unto themselves, they are. But in the universal application of prophecy and the words of the Lord given by his prophets, they are as Nephi states applicable to all men. In particular this second chapter of Isaiah has a direct application to Zion and the restoration upon the American Continent, the land of Josedph; and the building of the temple in the tops of the mountains, and that the law would procede out of Zion. Thus the words of Isaiah are very much concerning Ephraim, the restoration, the building the Temple of the Lord upon the land of Joseph, and the establishment of Zion from whence the law and the ordinances of salvation shall and have gone forth.

1^a Isa. 2:1-22
1^a Isaiah chapters 2-14 are quoted [engraved]
     from the brass plates by Nephi in 2 Nephi
     12-14; there are some differences in wording
     which should be noted
   ^b HEB Khazah [see], meaning "envisioned."
     It means Isaiah received his message
     through a vision from the LORD.

THE VISION There is evidence that the vision received by Isaiah, as well as a number of other such Prophets of God, was of that same visionary experience received by Mahonri Moriancumr, the brother of Jared. Mahonri was given to see and to write the 'whole of the vision' as the 'vision of all' and that was sealed up as that which was the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon plates. Other have also received that vision either by the means of having read it or having seen it themselves. The accounts would indicate that some are 'guided through the vision' by a divine messenger who points out particular parts of that vision. Such was that as given to Lehi and Nephi as what they have called the Dream of Vision of the Tree of Life. From reading Nephi's record, we learn that John the revelator also had seen the same vision and had his particular assignment to write his reserved portion of the vision as the book of Revelation. Nephi also saw that but was prohibited from writing John's portion of the vision. The affinity that Nephi had for the words of Isaiah comes from they both having written and spoken relative from having seen the same vision, likely from each of their own particular perspectives and 'tour' of it. So rather that 'rewrite' much of what Isaiah had already written [note: a close study of Nephi's writings reveal that Nephi had already written some of the same 'words' as Isaiah], Nephi took another route of 'copying' over many of the words of Isaiah directly into his engraved plates record. Nephi had so such commandment that he could not do that for the writings of Isaiah were already to be had among man. (See Vision of All)

Isaiah's Word

The current introduction of verse 1 to this second chapter of Isaiah is like that of the first verse of the first chapter. It seems to be from a Jewish third-person perspective, whether written by Isaiah taling of himself in the 'third person' or by an inspired compiler such as Ezekiel. It is not Isaiah's own first person introduction. Isaiah's words are more universally unto the whole of Israel and not merely unto Judah and that Jerusalem of Judaea, though they were what was left of 'Isreal' at the time of Isaiah, the 10 tribes having already been taken and scattered. Thus this was a myopic perception of those who compiled and/or wrote the words of Isaiah, applying them only to Judah since only Judah to them seemed to remain. (See chapter one's similar commentary upon this matter.)

2 And it shall come to pass **in the ^alast days, that the ^bmountain of the LORD's ^chouse shall be ^destablished in the top of the mountains^a, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all ^enations shall flow unto it.
3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us ^ago up to the ^bmountain of the LORD, to the ^chouse of the God of Jacob; and he will ^dteach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of ^eZion shall go forth the ^flaw^a, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem^b.

The Mountain of the
House of the LORD The 'Mountain' House of the LORD is that which has been built at the 'Salt Lake', 'City'. It is the Salt Lake City Temple with its twin reflective sets of spires of the mountain hills surrounding upon the east as those of the Melchezedick Priesthood and on the west as the Aaronic Priesthood of the Kingdom of the LORD.
President Brigham Young did state that he would build that temple to last for a 1,000 years, that is the length of the Millennium. Whether in actual fact that is does stand so long is really beside the fact. It is the purpose and the intent of the structure to be that representative edifice of the Kingdom of the Lord on Earth in the latter-days. And the prophets of old, Isaiah, Micah and others have seen in vision and do speak of that building as a hallmark of the Lord's Zion built upon this the American Continent. Here it is that Zion is and has been established in the tops of the mountains with its hills surrounding to fulfill the promises of the Lord to the father and in particular those made to such as Abraham and Jacob among all the others as well. And that is that through and by the tribe of Ephraim shall Israel be gathered in this the latter-days as also set out in the prophecies of the holy scriptures.
In particular the scriptural references here supplied with their 'red colored extentions' do hereby represent a goodly number of those prophetic prophecies of this great and marvelous work of the latter-day establishment of Zion.
2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, ^awhen the ^bmountain of the Lord's ^chouse shall be established in the top of the ^dmountains^a, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it.
3 And many ^apeople shall go and say, Come ye, and l et us go up to the ^bmountain of the Lord, to the ^chouse of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will ^dwalk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law^a, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem^b.
2^a in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains America is a more ancient land, even the 'Zion of Adam'. And the house of the Lord established in the tops of Zion's mountains, that Zion land of Adam, which is America, has been established. The great Salt Lake Temple can be looked to as that house of the Lord so established, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy concerning it.
3^a out of Zion shall go forth the law The Law of the Lord out of Zion is the authorized ordinances and covenants of the priesthood unto salvation which includes the temple ordinances unto exaltation.
3^bthe word of the Lord from Jerusalem The Word of the Lord is contained in the New Testament wherein gives the account of the Lord's earthly mission of redemption which he fulfilled out of Jerusalem. But the latter-day 'Word of the Lord' going forth out of Zion is that which is and has been taken to the world out from the Church Headquartered at Salt Lake, City, Utah, which is that that twin parallel city of Jerusalem by the Dead Sea there. And this land of America is the more Biblically ancient land and city where was even the Garden of Eden and the land of Adam was in the beginning. 2^a Comparison with the King James Bible in
     English shows that there are differences
     in more than half of the 433 verses of
     Isaiah quoted [engraved] in the Book of
     Mormon, while about 200 verses have the
     same wording as KJV; TG Last Days
   ^b TG Zion
   ^c 3 Ne. 24:1
   ^d Gen. 49:26; D&C 49:25; D&C 109:61;
     D&C 133:31 (29-31-34)
2^a TG Last Days
   ^b Isa. 13:2; Micah 4:1-3-13
   ^c TG Jerusalem, New;
   ^d TG Dispensations;
     TG Restoration of the Gospel
   ^e 1 Kings 8:41-42-43;
     TG Israel, Mission of; TG Nations
3^a Zech. 8:22
   ^b Joel 2:1; 2 Ne. 30:15 (12-18); D&C 133:13
   ^c Ps. 122:1-9
   ^d TG Walking with God
3^a TG Millennium, Preparing a People for
   ^b Ps. 48:1; Isa. 30:29; 3 Ne. 20:22;
     D&C 84:2-4
   ^c TG Temple
   ^d TG Missionary Work; TG Teaching
   ^e Isa. 33:20; TG Kingdom of God on Earth;
     TG Zion
   ^f HEB teaching, or doctrine; TG God, Law of;
     TG Mission of Latter-day Saints

The New Jerusalem There are to be 'Two New Jerusalems' of the Lord in the latter-days. One is that city which comes with the Lord at his coming as it comes with him down out of Heaven. That one will be established at the central stake of Zion in Missouri. The other 'New Jerusalem' shall be—has been builded in the tops of the mountains of the Mountain House of the Lord prior to his second coming. That 'Mountain' House of the Lord is the Salt Lake, City Temple with its dual sets of three spires representative and reflective of the Mountians surrounding and also representative of the two great Priesthood Heads of the Lord's Kingdom. Yes, Salt Lake, City is that parallel city to Jerusalem of the middle east which is to be built by the saints of God before and in preparation to the coming of the Lord at his second coming to usher in the great Millennial Day of the Lord. Thus Salt Lake, City, that is the 'Salt Lake' being the counter part comparison of the Dead Sea, and the 'City' being that of the 'New Jerusalem of the Lord's People' prepared by them prior to the second coming of the Lord in his majesty.

4 And he shall ^ajudge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn ^bwar any more.
5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us ^awalk in the ^blight of the LORD.

The Millennial Day Theses events from the day of the Lord's judgment, which begins at his Second Coming and flows throughout the Millennium until that great and final judgment, and when peace shall fill the earth for a thousand years; is what is being spoken of here. Satan will be bound for that period of time. And the invitation is to 'come' and 'walk in th light of the LORD'. 4 And he shall ^ajudge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks—nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
5 O house of Jacob, come ye and let us walk in the light of the Lord; yea, come, for ye have all ^agone astray, every one to his ^bwicked ways.

4^a 2 Ne. 21:3 (2-5, 9)
4^a TG Jesus Christ, Judge
   ^b TG Millennium; TG Peace; TG War
5^a 2 Ne. 28:14; Mosiah 14:6; Alma 5:37
   ^b Isa. 53:6
5^a** TG Walking with God
   ^b TG Jesus Christ, Light of the World;

6 ¶ Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they ^abe replenished from the east, and are ^bsoothsayers like the Philistines, and they ^cplease themselves in the children of strangers.
7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any^a end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any^a end of their chariots:
8 Their land also is full of ^aidols; they ^bworship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:
9 And the ^amean man ^bboweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.
6 Therefore, O Lord, thou hast forsaken thy people, the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and hearken unto ^asoothsayers like the ^bPhilistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.
7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any^a end of their ^atreasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any^a end of their chariots.
8 Their land is also full of ^aidols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.
9 And the mean man^a ^aboweth ^bnot down, and the great man humbleth himself not, therefore, forgive him not.
7^a is there any Verse 7 is a good example of the translation of the King James Bible being used directly from the Bible without alteration, and with the italicized added words of the King James translators, which makes the meaning plainer to be understood. This was a 'good' translation and Joseph/Oliver did take it directly from the Bible without alteration as the Lord had commanded that they were to 'search it out', which reference to the KJB would be doing, and then be impressed by the Lord as to what is an acceptable translation unto him. If they were so inspired to further translate a particular verse and not use the King James translation, then they would then have to proceed and so translated from the 'Reformed Egyptian' using the inspiration of God through the Urim and Thummum. Examples of such verses as would have to be further translated and were not acceptable to the Lord, as such as verse 13 and 14 below. There the Lord would have had Joseph Smith translate the 'Reformed Egyptian' from the golden plates, which did yield not only a slightly different translation without the specific 'italicized' words but with addition phrases as well which would have been a part of the brass plates version of Isaiah.
8^a the mean man This does not speak of a man that is unkind, What is being spoken of is a separated meaning of the word mean. And that is in terms of the common or average man. The 'mean' is what is in the middle such as in terms of a mathmatical 'mean'. Synomyms such as normal, average, standard, middle, mid and median would be considered to represent the meaning of who is the 'mean man'.Other words along this line would be regular, everyday, usual, ordinary or normal. Perhaps a very comporable subsitute would be the concept of the 'norm'. Thus what is being said here is that the 'ordinary' man as well as the great man, or that is all men regardless of their personal status will all bow down unto God.
6^a TG Sorcery;
   ^b Gen. 10:14
6^a IE are filled, supplied with teachings
     allien beliefs.; Ps. 106:35
   ^b TG Sorcery
   ^c HEB strike hands with, or make covenant
     with
7^a TG Treasure
8^a Jer. 2:28; TG Idolatry
8^a TG Apostasy of Israel; TG Idolatry
   ^b TG Trust Not in the Arm of Flesh;
     TG Worship
9^a Ex. 34:8; Isa. 2:9
   ^b IE unto God; he worships idols instead
9^a IE ordinary man
   ^b 2 Ne. 12:9

10 ¶ Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.

11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be ^aexalted in that ^bday.
12 For the ^aday of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is ^bproud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought ^clow:

10 O ye wicked ones, enter into the rock, and ^ahide thee in the dust, for the fear of the Lord and the glory of his majesty shall smite thee.
11 And it shall come to pass that the ^alofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
12 For the ^aday of the Lord of Hosts soon cometh upon all nations, yea, upon every one; yea, upon the ^bproud and lofty, and upon every one who is lifted up, and he shall be brought low.

10^a Amos 9:3; Rev. 6:15-16; Alma 12:14
11^a 2 Ne. 15:15-16
11^a Ps. 46:10 (7-11); Isa. 28:5
     ^b Isa. 52:6; Hosea 2:16 (14-23); Zech. 9:16
12^a TG Day of the Lord
     ^b Job 40:11; Mal. 4:1; 2 Ne. 23:11;
       D&C 64:24
12^a TG Day of the Lord
     ^b TG Pride
     ^c Job 40:11

13 And upon all the ^acedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,
14 And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up,

15 And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall,
16 And upon all the ^aships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.

13 Yea, and the day of the Lord shall come upon all the ^acedars of Lebanon, for they are high and lifted up; and upon all the oaks of Bashan;
14 And upon all the ^ahigh mountains, and upon all the hills, and upon all the nations which are lifted up, and upon every people;
15 And upon every ^ahigh tower, and upon every fenced wall;
16 And upon all the ships of the ^asea, and upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.

13^a Isa. 37:24; Ezek. 31:3; Zech. 11:1-2
13^a Ezek. 31:3
14^a Isa. 30:25
15^a 3 Ne. 21:15, 18
16^a The Greek (Septuagint) has "ships of the
       sea." The Hebrew has "ships of Tarshish."
       The Book of Mormon has both, showing
       that the brass plates had lost neither phrase
16^a The Greek (Septuagint) version has one
       phrase that the Hebrew does not, and
       the Hebrew has one phrase that the
       Greek does not, but 2 Ne. 12:16 has both;
       Ps. 48:7; Ezek. 27:25

17 And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the ^ahaughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
18 And the ^aidols he shall utterly abolish.
19 And they shall go into the ^aholes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for ^bfear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
17 And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the ^ahaughtiness of men shall be made low; and the Lord alone shall be exalted in ^bthat day.
18 And the idols he shall utterly abolish.
19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for the fear of the Lord shall come upon them and the ^aglory of his majesty shall smite them, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth^a.

17^a TG Haughtiness
17^a TG Haughtiness
     ^b IE the day of the Lord's coming in
       glory; see vv. 17-21
18^a TG Idolatry
19^a TG Jesus Christ, Glory of
19^a Rev. 6:15
     ^b TG Fearfulness

20 In that day a man shall ^acast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;
21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
22 Cease ye from ^aman, whose breath is in his nostrils: for ^bwherein is he to be accounted of? 20 In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which he hath made for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;
21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for the fear of the Lord shall come upon them and the majesty of his glory shall smite them, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
22 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for wherein is he to be accounted of?

20^a HEB cast away
22^a TG Trust Not in the Arm of Flesh
     ^b IE Cease depending on mortal man; he
       is of little power compared to God. Cp.;
       Moses 1:10

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