1 HEARKEN unto me, ye that follow after righteousness. Look unto the rock from whence ye are hewn, [ The Redeemer - the Holy One of Israel, even Jesus Christ. ] and to the hole of the pit from whence ye are digged.

2  Look unto Abraham, your father, and unto Sarah, [ Those who are seeking the covenants that God made with Abraham and Sarah. It is interesting to note that the Muslims, the jews as well as the saints all claim Abraham as their father. So Isaiah is saying look back to what the lives were like for Abraham and Sarah, what their priorities where(Abr 1&2). Abraham received the scriptures while young and he began to diligently study them, to the point that he wanted to receive that covenants of the fathers, and sought them out, leaving Ur and traveling to find them. ] she that bare you; [ Speaking to all of the descendants of Abraham and more particularly the descendants of Sarah. ] for I called him alone, and blessed him. [ Jacob uses these verses to refresh their memory that they are still Abraham's children so when they choose to look back to his example and his covenant, the Lord will redeem them. ]

3 For the Lord shall comfort Zion, [ Speaking here of the millennial day. Verses 3-5. The Lord will have to be the source of comfort as the Saints will not find it anywhere until the Lord come to provide that comfort. Jacob gives additional insight into this verse and how the Lord will comfort them in 2 Ne. 10:7. ] he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.

4  Hearken [ Hebrew "Shema" is translated here as hearken which means to "listen" and "obey". ] unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation; [ Or the house of Israel - which is considered by the Lord as a nation. To him there are really three nations of Israel on the earth. They are the nation or kingdom of Judah, The Northern kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Joseph(the nephites living in America). We see this is the allegory found in Jacob 5. Where there are 3 graftings. These graftings are first, second and third and then they are restored in reverse order. The first nation(Northern Israel) fell in 720 BC. It will then be the last one to be restored. The second destruction happened to the Jewish nation in 70 AD when the Romans came in and wiped them out, such that by 130 there were really no Jews left in Palestine. The last nation of Israel are the Nephites(Josephs descendants) who were destroyed in 420 AD. This is why those descendants of Joseph were the first to be restored in the last days when the pilgrims came forth and established this nation under the covenants of God as a promised nation. In 1948 the Jewish nation was established once again. If you refer to the Bible Dictionary under "Israel Kingdom of" and read the last two paragraphs you'll see that the house of Israel meaning the Northern Kingdom of Israel those of the north countries will be the last to be restored and that when they are restored that restoration will rival The Exodus of Egypt it will be incredible. Which is what D&C section 133 beginning in verse 26 is all about. ] for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light for the people. [ The nations of Israel were always established by the Lord to be a light unto the world, a city on the hill so to speak. ]

5 My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arm shall judge the people. [ So if you want to participate in these joyful occassions then I suggest that you repent of your inquities. ] The isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.

6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment; [ After the millennium there will be new heavens and the earth will be changed to a celestial state. ] and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner. But my salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. [ So while the heavens made change and the earth will be changed you can count on the consisted fact that the Lord will still be consistent in furthering his work of salvation. ]

7  Hearken [ Hebrew "Shema" is translated here as hearken which means to "listen" and "obey". ] unto me, ye that know righteousness, [ How do we know righteousness? We need to seek after it. The children of Israel certainly knew righteousness at least for a time. ] the people in whose heart I have written my law, [ Or those who have soft enough hearts for the Lord to be able to write in them, those who are willing to make and keep covenants with God. There is a difference between writing the law in the books for those to read; and those who write the laws of God in their own hearts. ] fear ye not the reproach [ Childless and single. ] of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. [ Suggesting that is the judgements of God that we should really fear, all man will be subject to God at the end. Man will no longer be subject to man - so make sure to put your fear in the proper place. ]

8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool. But my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation from generation to generation. [ We see similar message written in 3 Ne. 21:9-12. ]

9 Awake, awake! Put on strength, [ Where do we get strength from? ] O arm of the Lord; awake as in the ancient days. Art thou not he that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon? [ He is talking to Israel here and saying hey man snap out of it, remember who you are, didn't you cast satan out of the council in heaven before?(Rev 12:7-9) "Rahab" literally means “pride” or “arrogance”. Isaiah speaks in the place of covenant Israel and asks the Lord to “awake” and “put on strength.” Rahab “is a poetic synonym for Egypt (Psalm 87:4). In a more general way, Rahab may be interpreted as a representation of Satan. In any case, the point of the imagery is that the Lord has power over all the elements and all of his enemies” (Book of Mormon Reference Companion, 355). ]

10  Art thou not he who hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; [ Israel, aren't you the ones who Moses cast down his staff and divided the waters so that you could pass through on dry ground. Come on man - remember who you are, this IS YOUR HERITAGE man. ] that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?

11 Therefore, the redeemed of the Lord shall return, [ Or all three of the nation states of Israel even though they have been scattered, they will all return. See also 3 Ne. 20:29; Isaiah 66:8. ] and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy and holiness shall be upon their heads; and they shall obtain gladness and joy; sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

12 I am he; yea, I am he that comforteth you. Behold, who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of man, [ Or come on, yes I know that things will be bad for you in the last days, but you need to remember that I am still God, I have told you what is going to happen, I am greater than man. In the end believe in me and what I will do from an eterna; perspective; it is greater than what man can do. Have faith in me, trust me. I have told you that your backs will be against the wall, but before you are allowed to perish I will bring forth this army of Israel from the north to save you. ] who shall die, and of the son of man, [ The earliest use of this title "Son of Man" (man here means "King") that I can find in the scriptures comes from the Book Of Enoch(Enoch 46:1-3). Other references to that title include Daniel(), Abraham() and Christ himself() and all of them would have had available the Book Of Enoch. Enoch was given the title Son of Man as a descriptor for Jesus Christ. We find in written in the Book of Enoch 46:1-3 “And I asked the angel who went with me and showed me all the hidden things, concerning that Son of Man, who He was, and whence He was, (and) why he went with the Head of Days? And he answered and said unto me: This is the Son of Man who hath righteousness, with whom dwelleth righteousness, and who revealeth all the treasures of that which is hidden, because the Lord of Spirits hath chosen Him, and whose lot hath the pre-eminence before the Lord of Spirits in uprightness forever. (BoE 46:1-3)” So from these verses we can see that Enoch's angelic guide has declared that "the Son Of Man" is another name for Jesus Christ. This phrase is used by Daniel when he likens the person that he saw in his vision "like the Son of Man" (Daniel 7:13-14) as does Abraham when he described the individual who volunteered Himself to do the will of the Father as being “like unto the Son of Man.”  Therefore the phrase “like the Son of Man” or “like unto the Son of Man,” (Abr 3:27) used in these two examples promote the familiarity through an external source to which both prophets would have had access to that being the Book of Enoch. (Abr 1:31) This is also why Christ would have referred to himself as "the Son Of Man" because it was the messianic title that embodied the works and mission that would be preformed creation, example, atonement, resurrection, judgement(John 5:22-23,27) are all responsibilities that were given to the Son Of Man. Christ seems to use this title to place specific importance upon the subject matter He was teaching at the time, because the use of that title by Christ typically focuses on the prophecies of the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and His latter-day responsibilities. There is no reason to belive otherwise than those Jews who heard Christ use this title would have been fully aware the title’s source and the bold declaration represented by the messianic prophecies for him as described in the Book of Enoch. ] who shall be made like unto grass? [ What do we know about grass? Well it needs rain to grow, but as soon as it gets hot and dry it dies. In other wordsd it does not last long when it is challenged. "Occasionally an east wind, heated by the desert sands of Arabia, will sweep across the country, withering the vegetation as if in a furnace. In Isaiah this phenomenon is used as a type of the brief existence of mortality" (“Isaiah’s Imagery of Plants and Planting,” 26.) ]

13  And forgettest [ Israel you have forgotten the power of your God. You have discounted my abilities. ] the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, [ God is more than the God of Israel, he is the one remember that created the earth and the heavens. Worlds without number has he created. ] , and laid the foundations of the earth, and hast feared continually every day, [ Israel has made decisions in fear of Satan. They are more concerned with his power than Gods power. So many will loose sight of God due to fear, so great will be the destruction and rule by the antichrist in toward the end that man will just walk away from everything including the truth due to fear. ] because of the fury of the oppressor, [ The antichrist, the oppressor is so overpowering that those who do have not put on the strength of God (vs 9) will be overpowered. ] as if he were ready to destroy? [ Yes as a matter of fact he is indeed ready to destroy, that has been Satans plan from the beginning. ] And where is the fury of the oppressor?

14 The captive exile hasteneth, [ Who is the only captive exile of Israel in the days of Isaiah? It was the Northern Kingdom of Israel, who was destroyed during Isaiah's days. Recall that Isaiah had as far as we know two children and his two children were given as signs to Israel. One of the children's name(Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz) in English was essentially Assyria is going to come and destroy you and take all of your stuff(Isaiah 8:1-4). The name of the second son(Shear-jashub) was essentially "a Remnant shall return in the last days". Those of covenant Israel that have been held captive (the lost ten tribes) by their oppressors will soon be set free. The phrase "captive exiles" refers to the kingdom of Israel that were banished from the ancestral lands. The ones who God planted in the nethermost parts of heaven. Here we will see detailed the good that will come about as a result of the Assyrian conquest of the Northern kingdom of Israel. ] that he may be loosed, [ 1) The captive exiles, the ten lost tribes will be made free. ] and that he [ Their brothers. ] should not die in the pit, nor that his [ Their. ] bread should fail.

15 But I am the Lord thy God, whose waves roared; [ Can you imagine the roaring that took place when the Israelites passed through the red sea on dry ground. Then the waves crashed down on the army of Pharaoh - who is a type for the latter day antichrist. Footnote here says see 1 Ne 4:2. ] 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,”. So the Lord of Hosts(which is a innumerable number of people - a large population or group. Here he is referring to the ten tribes) is the God of Israel. ] is my name.

16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, [ 2) The captive exiles, the ten lost tribes will have the word of the Lord -they will have their own scriptures as well. While the ten tribes reside in the heavens, by the Lord putting his words in their mouths it suggests that he organized his church among them. He called prophets to lead over them, however they still lack the fulness of the gospel, this is why they will fall at the feet of those from Ephraim when they return and receive all of the covenant blessings and ordinances from them. Which comes at the mark of time and times and the dividing of time - or the point at which the ten tribes will return. (Dan 7:25) ] and have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, [3) The captive exiles, the ten lost tribes will be hidden by the lords hand, he is the one he says who is doing the hiding of them. ] that I may plant the heavens [ Again we see the word "nata" the same word used when God planted Adam in the garden(Gen 2:8) and when God planted the Israelites on Mount Sinai to receive their temple endowment. 4) The captive exiles, the ten lost tribes will be planted in the heavens. ] and lay the foundations of the earth, [ 5) The captive exiles, the ten lost tribes will be used to lay the foundations of the earth. This phrase suggests their role when they return - they will have the responsibility to lay the foundations of the NEW EARTH. Remember when they return 1 they will wipe out those that are with the anti-Christ, they will make the cities desolate, and here we see that then they will have the responsibility to prepare the earth for its next phase - the millennial earth. What will that foundation be? It will be New Jerusalem. (Ether 13:3) ] and say unto Zion: Behold, thou art my people. [ 6) The captive exiles, the ten lost tribes will serve and bring about the identification of Zion. ]

17  Awake, awake, [ Awake because the antichrist is going to turn his attention to you. ] stand up, O Jerusalem, [ After the ten tribes return they kick the antichrist out of America. This was not planned on by the antichrist, as such he takes his fury elsewhere, and that happens to be Jerusalem where he will then reign for 3.5 years. ] which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury—thou hast drunken the dregs [ The dregs indicate that they drunk from the bitter cup, right down to the sediment at the bottom. The Savior drank from the bitter cup for us if we choose to follow him; if not as in this case we must drink of the cup for purselves. ] of the cup of trembling wrung out—

18 And none to guide her among all the sons she hath brought forth; [ Sons as a symbol of the priesthood - as if to say that without the priesthood and without the priesthood they have lost their prophets. and are on the road to apostasy. see 2 Ne 7:1-2. ] neither that taketh her by the hand, of all the sons she hath brought up.

19  These two sons are come unto thee, [ Jerusalem would be destroyed at once except for these two foreign sons, prophets who come to her rescue in the last days. ] who shall be sorry for thee—thy desolation and destruction, and the famine and the sword—and by whom [ Through the power of these two elders from God. ] shall I comfort thee? [ The people will be saved from utter annihilation and destruction, they will keep the antichrist at bay for 3.5 years. ]

20 Thy sons have fainted, save these two; [ Because Israel has lost the gospel of Jesus Christ and its power to guide, direct, and save, God has sent two priesthood holders to assist and bless them. These two are the same “two witnesses” spoken of in Revelation 11:3. They will testify in Jerusalem for three and a half years, will be killed and left dead in the streets, and then will be resurrected and lifted up to meet Jesus Christ as he returns to make his appearance to the Jews. (Book of Mormon Reference Companion, 356) Elder Bruce R. McConkie has suggested that these two “sons” could be members of the Council of the Twelve or the First Presidency (see Millennial Messiah, 390). ] they lie at the head of all the streets; [ Finally these two mighty men of God will be permitted by God to die. Their dead bodies will lie in the street for 3.5 days and then they will be restored to life. ] as a wild bull in a net, they are full of the fury of the Lord, the rebuke of thy God.

21 Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, [ Jerusalem. ] and drunken, and not with wine: [ But with the dregs from the bitter cup, which has left them in a state of stuper. Realing back and forth without clear direction on how to go forward. ]

22 Thus saith thy Lord, the Lord and thy God pleadeth the cause of his people; [ Remember that the Servant pled the cause of the Olive trees before the Master of the vineyard? ] behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again.

23 But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; [ The Lord will be the one doing this, the hand is symbolic of work and detail, The Lord will put forth his power to influence and give those who have tested covenant Israel a little of their own medicine. ] who have said to thy soul: Bow down, [ He is talking about the Jews here when the Anti-Christ comes to Jerusalem and trends down the Jews. ] that we may go over—and thou hast laid thy body as the ground and as the street to them that went over.

24 Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion; [ Zion is called to put on her strength. (Ether 13:8-13) ] put on thy beautiful garments, [ To put on the authority of the priesthood as one would put on a robe. The interpretation of this verse is given in D&C 113:7–8 (notice footnote 24b). Hoyt W. Brewster has written, “Perhaps this also implies the privilege of receiving sacred clothing in holy places” (Isaiah Plain and Simple, 228). ] O Jerusalem, [ Is called to put on her beautiful garments. (Ether 13:8-13) ] the holy city; for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. [ Those who are not willing to make covenants with God, and thise who are unholy. ] [ Jacob using Isaiah teach them of their heritage and that while individuals or generations may be permanently cut off if they choose so, the lineage of Abraham is still covenant Israel and they are summoned back to Zion whenever they are ready. Circumcision was a token of the Abrahamic covenant, so Jerusalem is promised that the day will come when those who haven’t made covenants will no longer enter her gates. In other words, after the earth is cleansed, Zion will be free of those who have not made covenants with Christ. ]

[ This next verse corresponds with Isaiah 52:2. ]

25 Shake thyself from the dust; [ This is to the house or people of Israel; shake thyself from the dust is a sign of morning, degradation - so he is saying get out of your reason for morning. Dust was a symbol of mourning. ] arise, [ So take action and get up from your down trodden state, take a bath put on some new clothes. ] sit down, [ Come into the house, sit and eat at the table, means to be accepted, just as they had in generations past] O Jerusalem; loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, [ Loose your sins and come back to the Lord. Symbolically, sin is like a band around our necks, as Satan leads us where he wants us to go. The Prophet Joseph Smith wrote that “the bands of her neck are the curses of God upon [covenant Israel]” (D&C 113:10). Verses 24–25 are repeated again in 3 Nephi 20:36–37, and in some of the last words in the Book of Mormon in Moroni 10:31. ] O captive daughter of Zion. [ This verse is the reason for chapter 9 & 10. So Jacob is now going to tell them how this is possible. How the house of Israel who has gone astray can return. This will be the subject for chapters 9 & 10, and then how that applies to them and us and our salvation. ]