Old Testament Commentary - Isaiah 4/2 Nephi 14

by Don R. Hender


Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
                 CHAPTER 4                   

Zion and her daughters shall be redeemed and cleansed in the Millennial day—Compare 2 Nephi 14.

             CHAPTER 14

Zion and her daughters shall be redeemed and cleansed in the millennial day—Compare Isaiah 4.

  1 AND in that day aseven women shall take hold of one bman, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy cname, to take away our dreproach.
  2 In that day shall the abranch of the LORD be bbeautiful and gloriousa, and the cfruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are descaped of Israel.
  3 And it shall come to pass, that he that is aleft in bZion, and he that remaineth in cJerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is dwritten among the living in Jerusalem:
1 aAND in that day, seven women shall take hold of one man, saying: We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel; only let us be called by thy name to take away our breproach.
2 In that day shall the abranch of the Lord be beautiful and gloriousa; the fruit of the earth excellent and comely to them that are escaped of Israel.
3 And it shall come to pass, they that are aleft in Zion and remain in Jerusalem shall be called holy, every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem--


 2a the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious Only in a Book of Mormon and extended understanding of Jesus Christ does this matter of the 'branch of the LORD' take on a clearer and fuller meaning. Remeber that Joseph under the hand of Jacob was told that he was a fruitful bough (Gen. 49:22) and that his 'branches would run over the wall. Lehi in his own blessing upon his son Joseph (2 Nephi 3) so speaks of a 'righteous branch' which will be raised up of which he includes his seed but he runs it into the latter days. The whole of the Book of Mormon is viewed as the 'stick of Joseph' but few grasp the full potenial of meaning of which it breaths concerning Joseph, the land of America and the 'branch of the LORD', the 'righteous branch' of Joseph in the latter days upon the land of Joseph with King David as its reigning King. Of the various branches of Joseph brought unto this land of promise, choice above all other lands, has been the family of Lehi, the family of Ishmael, the people of Mulek (see Messiah ben David ~ Messiah ben Joseph), the various descendants of Joseph scattered among the nations of the earth of the latter days, particularly Joseph Smith and the saints of the restoration, and finally need we again mention that Jesus Christ has come and will come and Zion the New Jerusalem will be established upon this the American continent; Christ himself being a very particular branch of the branches of Joseph (see again Messiah ben David ~ Messiah ben Joseph). These all are covenant 'branches of Joseph' the Patriarch of the Covenant, in and by and though whom the promises of the fathers remained to be fulfilled by the righteous brach of Joseph in the latter days (D&C 27:10).
 1a Isa. 4:1 (1-6)
 1a IE because of scarcity of men
      due wars.; See Isa. 3:25
   b Isa. 3:25 (24-25)
   c TG Marriage;
   d IE the stigma of being
      unmarried and childless;
      TG Reproach;
   b TG Reproach;
 2a Isa. 60:21; Isa. 61:3;
      2 Ne. 3:5; Jacob 2:25
 2a Jer. 23:5-6; 2 Ne. 3:5
      Jacob 2:25
   b TG Beauty
   c IE The earth will be renewed,
      and will be productive,
      prosperous, and beautiful
   d Isa. 10:20; D&C 133;12 (11-13)
 3a Matt. 13:43 (41-43)
 3a TG Israel, Restoration of
   b TG Zion
   c TG Jerusalem
   d IE those saved by approval
      of the Messiah;
      TG Record Keeping

Sons and Daughters of Christ
The 'branch of the Lord' are those who are his people. Zion is the 'pure in heart' who are the people of the Lord. Jerusalem is his 'holy city' implying more than just a location in the land of Israel, but those who are of the people of the Lord. These are those who are the true followers of Christ. They are they who have become His sons and daughters.

  4 aWhen the Lord shall have bwashed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have cpurged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of dburning.
  5 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount aZion, and upon her assemblies, a bcloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming cfire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.
  6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of arefuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.
4 When the Lord shall have awashed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of bburning.

5 And the aLord will create upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a bcloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for upon all the glory of Zion shall be a defence.

6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of arefuge, and a covert from storm and from rain.

 4a IE When the Lord has cleansed
      the earth (v. 4) he will set up
      his dwelling and is protective
      presence here (vv. 5-6)
 4a 2 Ne. 13:24 (16-26);
      TG Washing
   b Mal. 3:2
   c TG Millennium, Preparing a
      people for
   d TG World, End of
   b Mal. 3:2; Mal. 4:1
 5a Isa. 60:20 (1-3, 19-21);
      TG God, Presence of
 5a TG Zion
   b
Ex. 13:21; Zech. 2:5
   b Deut. 1:33;
      TG Protection, Divine
   c TG God, Presence of
 6a D&C 45:66 (66-72);
      TG Refuge
 6a Isa. 25:4;
      TG Refuge


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