2 Nephi 14

 


MDC Contents

   

2 Ne. 14:1

1 And 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 reproach.

2 Ne. 14:2

2 In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious; the fruit of the earth excellent and comely to them that are escaped of Israel.

Literary analysis: The two verses that lead off chapter 14 are contained in a single paragraph in the 1830 version of the Book of Mormon. As noted previously, there is no chapter break in that book between our current 2 Nephi 13:26 and 2 Nephi 14:1. In fact, this paragraph serves as a transition between themes, with verse 1 looking backward to the preceding text and acting as a summary, and verse 2 announcing a new theme. Thus although contained in the same paragraph, the hopeful tone of verse 2 is not dependent upon verse 1, which rather places a grim closing on the destruction of Israel. Verse 2 begins to look at the glory that will come from the Lord’s judgement, rather than dwelling on the sadness occasioned by the execution of that judgement.

2 Ne. 14:3

3 And it shall come to pass, they that are left in Zion and remain in Jerusalem shall be called holy, every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem—

2 Ne. 14:4

4 When the Lord shall have washed 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 burning.

Verse 3 reiterates the comfort given to the righteous in 2 Nephi 13:10. In spite of the destruction of Jerusalem, the righteous should take comfort for their faith will be rewarded. It should not be supposed that those who survive will therefore be righteous, but rather that their survival is as a result of their righteousness. The Lord will be with them and be their protection in the midst of this destruction.

Literary analysis: Verse 4 equates the destruction with a washing. The destruction will have "washed away the filth." The phrase "daughters of Zion" has two functions. On a literary level it highlights chapter 13:16-24 which specifically mentioned women. However, on a larger scale, it is the part standing for the whole. The cleansing of the women stands for the cleansing of all of Israel.

2 Ne. 14:5

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

2 Ne. 14:6

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

Verses 5 and 6 return to the theme in 2 Nephi 12:2-5. Isaiah begins with a declaration of building a dwelling place of the Lord, then recounts the judgements that will be necessary before that is to occur. At the end of this conceptual section, Isaiah closes the vision with a repetition of the beginning section. Verses 5 and 6 here reprise the theme of the building of a dwelling place for the Lord.

The "cloud of smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night" is a very clear reference to the experience of Israel with the Lord during their travels in the wilderness: "Ex. 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night."

The "glory of Zion" is another reference to the Lord himself. The presence of the Lord is indicated in the cloud and the fire, and his physical presence (also implied by his "glory") will be the defense of Israel. Their God will be their protector, not the hand of man.

In verse 6, the reference to the tabernacle clearly follows from the cloud and the fire in the previous verse. This is the temple of the Lord, and it will be for them a shelter. In verse 6 the specific items mentioned are the natural elements, but those elements stand for all that might cause discomfort. The dwelling place of the Lord is no ordinary house to keep out the rain of the skies, but rather a special place to keep out all of the storms that might rage against the soul.

       
      by Brant Gardner. Copyright 1998