2 Nephi 18 – Commentary

Differences with the King James Version of Isaiah 8

4 For behold (“behold” KJV uses “before“), the child shall not have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, before (KJV does not have “before“) the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.

14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the Houses of Israel, for a gin and (KJV has “for“) a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and (KJV uses “that“) mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to hear from the dead?

22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish, and (KJV uses “they“)shall be driven to darkness.

Commentary

You must take into consideration the context of the previous chapter regarding Isaiah 17:14-16 to understand the significance of this being recorded. It was to make clear the fulfillment of those three verses for the first fulfillment.

The name Maher-shalal-hash-baz means “Quick to Plunder, Swift to Spoil”, being a prophetic name referring to the future actions of Assyria in their attacks. Also interesting are the names Uriah – “Sees Jehovah” and Zechariah – “Remembers Jehovah”. The prophetess being referred to is the wife of Isaiah.^{[source 5 page 190]} The fact that she is called the prophetess does give credence to her own abilities in assisting in Gods work with the gift of prophesy.

This is a prophecy the before the child is able to talk, Assyria will already have come in to do their damage to Israel and Jerusalem. ^{[source 6 page 27]}

Isaiah describes and then contrasts two forms of waters–the soft rolling waters of Shiloah, located near the temple mount of Jerusalem, and the waters of the Euphrates, a great river that often floods out of control. The waters of Shiloah are controlled and inviting, whereas the Euphrates is dangerous and destructive. The waters of Shiloah bring life to those who drink them; the Euphrates brings death to those who are swept up in its flood. The images of the two waters are symbollic: the former represents Jesus, the King of Heaven, who is likened to the waters of life; the latter is the King of Assyria, who leads his great destructive armies, and covers the earth like a flood and destroys the inhabitants thereof. ^{[source 2 page 83]}

Isaiah is telling them that if they will associate themselves into confederate alliances, they shall not stand. But if instead, they will turn to the Lord, then the opposite will happen, the catastrophes from the Assyrians will not happen for God shall be with us.

Verses 11-13 are just like unto verses 9-10. Isaiah was instructed not to walk in the ways of the wicked people and to instead tell them that which is not politically popular. They should not seek after the alliances with other nations. They should instead look to the Lord to save them.

Now speaking about when the Assyrias come – for the righteous, the lord shall be a sanctuary. But for the rest of the house of Israel, he shall be come a stumbling block. And for Jerusalem, he shall become a gin which is an animal trap. Many will be killed and many will be carried away.

The law shall be bound up and sealed in the hearts of his disciples who are the living followers of Isaiah. And Isaiah shall wait upon the Lord for the fulfillment of God’s words, and look to the Lord who will come in the proper time to bring salvation to his people.

Isaiah is referring to he and his children. Isaiah, Shearjashub – which means a remnant shall return, and Maher-shalal-hash-baz foreshadow the imminent destruction by Assyria. ^{[source 5 page 192]} The house of the Lord was on Mount Zion, or the temple mount and the Lord dwells there. ^{[source 5 page 193]}

Do not seek truth through spiritualist seeking to pierce the veil to communicate with the dead or to foresee the future. The reason that the words of these sources do not match to the word of God is because their source is of darkness. Their words are not from God.

And when the Assyrians come, the people of Israel and Judah will be distressed and hungry, and in rage they will look up and curse God. And when they look around, the land will be full of trouble, despair, and darkness.

Commentary Sources

1. The website Isaiah Explained – by Avriham Gileadi.
2. The book Understanding Isaiah by Donald and Jay Parry, and Tina Peterson published by Deseret Book Company, 1998.
3. The book Annotated Edition – The Book of Mormon published by David R. Hocking and Rod Meldrum, 2018.
4. The book The Book of Isaiah – Annotated Edition eBook published by David R. Hocking, 2020.
5. Verse by Verse – The Book of Mormon by D. Kelly Ogden and Andrew C. Skinner, published by Deseret Book Company, 2011.
6. Isaiah Made Easier by David J Ridges, Second Edition, published by Cedar Fort, Inc., 2009.
7. Commentary of the Book of Mormon – writings from George Reynolds and Janne Sjodahl.
8. My own understanding.

Isaiah Explained

This video file was downloaded from the website at Isaiah Explained – Avraham Gileadi. He has a very detailed commentary to this chapter.

The website Isaiah Explained has this type of detailed description for all chapters of Isaiah.

Commentary from George Reynolds and Janne M. Sjodahl taken from Commentary on the Book of Mormon published in 1955:

VERSE 1. About the Great Roll. Two years – as it has been supposed – after the preceding prophecy, Isaiah received the instructions in this chapter. He is directed to take a great roll, a prepared skin, and write “with a man’s pen;” that is, with common, readable letters, the story concerning Maher – Shalal-Hash-Baz. This has been translated, “Speedy to rob; swift to plunder.” The name was given, to indicate to the people the character of the enemy nations.

VERSE 2. Uriah and Zechariah. The Prophet, according to instructions summoned two reliable witnesses ( for Uriah, see 2 Kings 16:11 ).

VERSE 3. The Prophetess. His wife.

VERSE 4. Before the King of Assyria. The son born was given a name to remind the people of the prophecy of Isaiah, that before long the riches of Damascus and Samaria, the capital of Ephraim, would be carried in a triumphal procession before the king of Assyria, whom Ahaz had bribed. ( 2 Kings 16: 7-9 )

VERSE 6. This People. The people of Judah. Shiloah was a spring, the clear, pure and clear water of which came slowly running from the mountain on which the temple of God had been erected. It was, therefore a striking symbol of the word of God and his government. Because the people of Judah were dissatisfied with this gentle rule, and preferred the domination of Rezin and Remaliah’s son – Syria and Ephraim.

VERSE 7. The Waters of the River. The Euphrates with its canals and confluents. Stands here for the king of Assyria with his hosts. Since the people despised the waters of Shiloah, they would be given a devastating inundation from Assyria.

VERSE 8. His Wings. The divisions of his armies. Thy Land, O, Immanuel! Immanuel was, as I understand it, the name of the second son of Isaiah ( 2 Ne. 17:14 ). Judea was, therefore, the country of his birth. But Immanuel was also a type of our Redeemer, and the country was his in a much more real sense.

VERSE 9. O Ye People! The Prophet now addresses the enemies of Judah. He says, in substance, You may combine – associate yourselves – all you want, nevertheless, ye shall be broken in pieces. Arm yourselves, counsel together, all in vain. Immanuel! God is with us.

VERSE 11. With a Strong Hand. The Prophet was sure of this, for the Lord had, as it were, gripped him in his firm hand while he instructed him what to say and what to do. Do not, the Lord said, shout confederacy with the crowd. ( v. 12 )

VERSES 13-15. Sanctify the Lord. He will be a city of refuge to those who are true, but a “rock of offense” to those who are unfaithful to him.

VERSE 16. Bind Up the Testimony. The contents of the roll ended with verse 15. It now remained for the Prophet to have the parchment rolled up and sealed, and put away for future reference.

VERSE 17. As for the Prophet, he would wait for the Lord to fulfil his word.

VERSE 18. Behold I and the Children. The Prophet reminds the people of the fact that both he and his children were signs and wonders given them by the Lord as testimonies of his predictions. The names of two of his sons are recorded: Shear-Jashub ( Is. 7: 3 ) and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. ( Is. 8: 3 ) Whether Immanuel, mentioned in Is. 7:14 and 8: 8, was the second son of Isaiah is a debated question. Among early Hebrew commentators Kimschi held that view. Grotius, Faber, Fritche, Gesenius, Hitzig and others have also advocated that opinion. Others have regarded the prophecy concerning Immanuel applicable only to our Lord and his virgin Mother. But, notwithstanding the preponderance of this interpretation, it seems to me that the context of Is. 7:14 compels us to regard the virgin, the “alma” of that text as a young woman living at the time of King Ahaz and the prophet; for, how could her motherhood otherwise have been a sign to the skeptic king, for whom it was intended? But, if the virgin was the contemporary of the king and the prophet, she was, in all probability the wife of the latter. We notice that Isaiah, before the birth of Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, undoubtedly following divine instructions, summoned two competent witnesses to accompany him to the mother of the expected child, to ascertain to their own satisfaction and to disarm public criticism, that she, the “prophetess,” was the legal wife of the Prophet. And, is it not probable that she was given that title, because she was the mother of the prophetic child Immanuel, -the type of the Messiah?

VERSE 19. Familiar Spirits. The Prophet warns the people against spiritism. When the people from the East shall try to induce you to establish communication with family spirits, then say, Should not a people ask God, if the living want to hear from the dead?

VERSE 20. The Law and the Testimony. That is the revealed word of God. If they do not speak in accordance with that word, there will – literally translated “be no dawn,” and, consequently, no daylight, for them. Comp. 2 Pet. 1:19.

VERSES 21-22. Bestead. Harassed, beset. Apostasy from the word of God causes all kinds of sufferings, because of the spiritual darkness that takes the place of the light of truth.