THE SECOND BOOK OF NEPHI
CHAPTER 15
The Lord’s vineyard (Israel) shall become desolate and his people shall be scattered—Woes shall come upon them in their apostate and scattered state—The Lord shall lift an ensign and gather Israel—Compare Isaiah 5. [Between 559 and 545 B.C.]
[ This is still a part of the vision that began in 2 Ne 12, but now it turns to a parable. This parable, like the dual temple symbolism in the chapter before suggests that this parable is meant to describe Judah in Jerusalem, its counterpart was given to Joseph Smith in the D&C 101:43-57 - this parable is for Joseph in America. Verses 1–2 are known as the song of the Vineyard, it “…demonstrates Isaiah’s literary skill and is well known for its beautiful language and poetic structure. This is the only parable found in Isaiah’s writings—Ludlow, Unlocking Isaiah in the Book of Mormon, p. 103. “The Book of Mormon version of the Isaiah text, this song is presented as something sung “then” (2 Ne. 15:1)—that is, at that day when the word of promise from Isaiah 4 is fulfilled. (This is a consequence of the way the Book of Mormon makes Isaiah 2–4 and Isaiah 5 into a single chapter.)…but it curiously projects the song into the future, making it something that will need to be sung once Israel has been reduced to just a remnant.—Spencer, Joseph M., The Vision of All: Twenty-five Lectures on Isaiah in Nephi’s Record (Part 2 of 2), Greg Kofford Books. Kindle Edition. ]
1 AND then will I sing to my well-beloved a song of my beloved, [ My only begotten – the Lord. ] touching his vineyard. My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill. [ In Hebrew it literally means “a horn, a child of fatness; most likely a hill shaped like a horn with very fertile soil. The Nephites in America. We understand this from Zenos' Allegory of the vineyard in Jacob 5:43. Here we learn that God planted Ephraim and Manasseh in a "good spot of ground; yea, even that which was choice unto me above all other parts of the land of my vineyard.") The similarities are amazing. There is a vineyard in a good spot that is choice, to be a very fruitful hill. ]
2 And he fenced it, [ Separated it from the rest of the world by water. ] and gathered out the stones thereof, [ Removed the Jaredites in their wickedness, "And thou beheldest that I also cut down that which cumbered this spot of ground, that I might plant this tree in the stead thereof." (Jacob 5:44). For these Nephite children of Joseph, Isaiah says they were the "choicest vine". ] and planted it with the choicest vine, [ Meaning his noble and great ones. His people (i.e. Israel). Isaiah details careful preparations for the vineyard. The master chooses fertile soil on a “fruitful hill,” cultivates the soil, selects good stock, protects the crop, and prepares for the crop’s harvest and storage. In chronological sequence, Isaiah describes that he “fenced [the vineyard],” “gathered out the stones,” “planted it,” “built a tower in the midst of it,” ] and built a tower in the midst of it, [ Symbolic of the temple blessings and covenants being given to the Nephites. Their only destruction would come from themselves not keeping their covenants with God. Additionally the word winepress seems to be used in connection with the "fierceness of the wrath of God" for breaking his covenant. The penalty of being destroyed in the flesh and being delivered to the buffetings of Satan in the spirit world until one repents, has to do with this symbolic concept of a winepress. All the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ were made available to the Nephites, the fullness of the Atonement was taught to them, and even Christ did minister to them the blessings of Gethsemane in person, that as a nation they "should bring forth grapes, (good fruit). ] and also made a wine-press therein; and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
4 What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes it brought forth wild grapes.
5 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard—I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and I will break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down;
6 And I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. [ A covenant curse. ]
7 For the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts [ What exactly does “host” mean? The phrase “Lord of Hosts” is the same as the “Lord of Sabaoth.” “The Lord of Sabaoth was a title of Jehovah; the hosts were the armies of Israel (1 Sam. 17:45), but also included the angelic armies of heaven” (Bible Dictionary, “Sabaoth,” . ] is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant; and he looked for judgment, and behold, oppression; for righteousness, but behold, a cry. [ The cry of the oppressed. ]
8 Wo unto them that join house to house, till there can be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!
9 In mine ears, said the Lord of Hosts, of a truth many houses shall be desolate, and great and fair cities without inhabitant.
10 Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of a homer shall yield an ephah. [ The seriousness of the desolation in the fields is demonstrated. Ordinarily, a farmer would hope to get a thirty, sixty, or even a hundred-fold increase from the seed he planted. But instead he would only get one tenth back because one homer of seed (equal to ten ephahs) would only yield one ephah of harvest. This is a type of "reverse tithing" that results from unfaithfulness. ]
11 Wo unto them [ These verses now turn to the Lord's people and their attitude toward God that they will have in the last days in both Jerusalem as well as in Zion. ] that rise up early in the morning, [ Because they lack knowledge they do not understand the lateness of the hour. ] that they may follow strong drink, that continue until night, and wine inflame them!
12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, [ Tambourine. ] and pipe, and wine are in their feasts; but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands.
13 Therefore, my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge; [ Or a lack of knowledge of the Lord and his teachings. ] and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.
14 Therefore, hell hath enlarged herself, [ Because of their disregard for the situtation that they are in, they are not a people of Zion but rather a people of hell. They have made the inhabitants of hell greater. ] and opened her mouth without measure; and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
15 And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled.
16 But the Lord of Hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.
17 Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, [ The little ones, those still learning. Suggesting that all is well in Zion and so there is no need to protect the little ones. ] and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.
18 Wo unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope; [ The effects of sin are likened to beasts of burden who are tied to their carts. Sin is like unto a burden President Harold B. Lee said "the heaviest burden one may have to bear in this life...is the burden of sin" July 1973 Ensign. ]
19 That say: Let him make speed, [ Hurry up lets go if we are going to, otherwise we are just going to move on, forget this whole idea of a God. ] hasten his work, that we may see it; [ Kind of a challenge to God, if there is really a God well let's see him and his power, prove it! ] and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it.
20 Wo unto them that call evil good, [ What does he mean to call evil good? When a person claims that a certain thing is not a sin when he knows it is sinful, he is calling "evil good." Why would someone do it? He may do this in order to gain popularity with sinful people or to excuse his own weakness. Concerning such people, Spencer W. Kimball has written: Woe unto those who wrest the scriptures to interpret them to cover their weaknesses. ... Many of the modern terms for sin were not used in the scriptures and in olden days, and some people, therefore, excuse their contaminations because the age-old transgressions were not identified with modern terms. But, if one reads the scriptures carefully, all sins are denounced there in every shade of error. ... Surely, every soul who has reached the age of accountability, and especially those who have received the Holy Ghost after baptism, knows the difference; but so often we hear what we want to hear and we see what we want to see. There is a definite war against the soul when evil is perpetrated. And I challenge any normal baptized person who says he did not know he was doing wrong. There is no compatibility between sin and righteousness, between guilt and peace. (BYUSY, Jan. 1965, p. 7.). ] and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, [Is this not another way of saying the "woke ideas of the day". So those who subscribe to the woke philosophies of the day, the morality of Babylon as she flips the script of right and wrong, good and bad. What happens when we put darkness for light? Revelations from the prophets of God are not like offerings at the cafeteria, some to be selected and others disregarded” (in Conference Report, Oct. 2003, 21; or Ensign, Nov. 2003, 22). Here the comparison is made between light which is gospel truth, understanding and wisdom. Light is the agent or power by which God gives understanding; that which stimulates and allows for vision. While on the other hand darkness is just the entire and complete lack of any light. ] that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
21 Wo unto the wise in their own eyes [ What does it mean to be wise in your own eyes? the fifth crime specified. It refers to those who are inflated with a false opinion of their own knowledge, and who are, therefore, self-confident and vain. In their own opinion, or estimation. ] and prudent in their own sight!
[ Knowing; self-conceited. So knowing that they have their own sense of pride. What are the problems with self-conceit? ITS SIGNS:contempt of others; skepticism. ITS CAUSES: Ignorance; vanity, pride. ITS FOLLY: It makes a man ridiculous; leads him into error. ITS OFFENSIVENESS TO GOD: in spirit; principle; action. ]
22 Wo unto the mighty to drink wine, [ Those who prided themselves on their ability to drink “much” without becoming intoxicated; who had been so accustomed to it, that they defied its effects, and boasted of their power to resist its usual influence. A similar idea is expressed in Isaiah 56:12. Does that make them superior in some way? No but they think so. ] , and men of strength to mingle strong drink; [ To mix wine with spices, dates, drugs, etc., to make it more intoxicating; ] ;
23 Who justify the wicked [ Those who reject Christ; the plan of redemption and the Lord's prophets. ] for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
24 Therefore, a [ Or as a result of their wickedness. ] as the fire devoureth the stubble,[ That which is left after the harvest is complete; without fruit or grain; or no worth. ] and the flame consumeth the chaff, [ The chaff is the by product of the harvest and is highly flammable. ] their root s [ The wicked have lost their roots, their anchor and stability; family ties. ] shall be rottenness, and their blossoms [ Which is their potential to bear fruit, to have and raise families. ] shall go up as dust; [ Will be of no worth, it is the lowest you can go and the place to which all things return in death. The dust was to them the thing of least worth. This is a suggestion that the wicked will not be able to raise families in the next life and will suffer great destruction of their families in this life.] because [ Isaiah will give us the reason for this right here. ] they have cast away the law of the Lord of Hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. [ Because they disregarded what they knew to be true, they chose to leave the covenant path that they were on. It was because of their unrighteous choices. This is a warning for us in our day to choose the Lord in all our doings. ]
25 Therefore, [ As a result of their wickedness. ] is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people, [ From the previous verse because they disregarded what they knew to be true, they chose to leave the covenant path and used their agency for unrighteousness. ] and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them; and the hills did tremble, and their carcasses were torn in the midst of the streets. [ God allowed this destruction to happen as a result Israel's wickedness. We always need to remember that God does not extract destruction out of meanness, but rather he does it to bring men to him. His whole mission is to bring about the immortality and eternal life of man, so in order to bring that about he has to flood the earth, he has to burn with fire, he has to shake the earth ] For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. [ Despite all that Israel continues to do wrong, he still waits and calls them to repent, to come back as he is alway awaiting for our return. (2 Nephi 28:32 and Jacob 6:4-5). Elder Neal A. Maxwell said this verse "is a strong and very comforting reminder that the Lord is very desirous that we use His Atonement and be freed from the burden of sin, even if we have a long history of not living the gospel". Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the following: "Our merciful and long-suffering Lord is ever ready to help. His 'arm is lengthened out all the day long" (Maxwell, "According to the Desire of [Our] Hearts," p. 21; October 1996 General Conference of the Church; 2 Nephi 28:32). ] .
26 And he [ The Lord. ] will lift up an ensign [ This ensign will be the returning hosts of Israel coming forth from the far country. To which the house of Israel will be restored. This huge army will change everything in the world as we see here some of what they will do. That ensign is the church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints Doctrines Of Salvation Vol 3 :254-255. A Hebrew term meaning "banner or standard"; beacon on the top of a mountain. ] to the nations from far, and will hiss [ Declare. ] unto them from the end of the earth; and behold, they [ His warrior's. ] shall come with speed swiftly; [ Here he is trying his best to describe just how fast they will go on their respective missions. v27 gives his version of the details. ] none shall be weary nor stumble among them. [ The journey will not be hard on them physically. ]
27 None shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken; [ They will travel to their chosen destination fast enough that they will not even need to remove their shoes. ]
28 Whose arrows [ The gospel. ] shall be sharp, [ Because the message contain the truth, they are to the point, and give direction. ] and all their bows bent, [ A sign that they are ready. ] and their horses’ hoofs shall be counted like flint, [ The means of transportation. ] and their wheels like a whirlwind, [ Have you ever noticed how they paint the inside cone on a jet airplane. they paint a little spiral. this is done so that workers can quickly see it the is any movement to the engine. Now imagine Isaiah trying to describe the turbines on a jet - they look pretty much like a whirlwind - plus the kick up a little dust as well. ] their roaring like a lion. [ With the power of the king of the jungle shall they declare the truth- representing the King of the earth. ]
29 They shall roar like young lions; yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, [ Seek out converts, those that are seeking. ] and shall carry away safe, [ Because the converts have accepted the atonement they are now safe from the sins of the world - no longer subject to them and their burden. ] and none shall deliver. [ Their message is delivered not by the missionaries but buy the spirit. They have a power that is above that of the world, they are not under the rule of men. ]
30 And in that day [ The day in which this will all take place. ] they [ This latter day army of God - comprised of those from the lost ten tribes. ] shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea; and if they look unto the land, behold, darkness and sorrow, [ Describes the condition of the people before the missionaries come with the message - one of dispare. ] and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.