2 Nephi 18
People in this chapter
This chapter continues the story of the last one. Judah is still afraid of Syria and Israel. King Ahaz has turned to Assyria. Isaiah keeps giving signs, this time through his newborn son, whose long name is a prophecy: Maher-shalal-hash-baz, swift spoil, speedy prey.
Tap any highlighted phrase to jump to the commentary that unpacks it.
2 Nephi 18:1-4Swift Spoil, Speedy Prey
1Moreover, the word of the Lord said unto me: Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen, concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz. 2And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah. 3And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived and bare a son. Then said the Lord to me: Call his name, Maher-shalal-hash-baz. 4For behold, the child shall not have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, before the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.
Isaiah writes a strange name on a large scroll before witnesses. Then his son is born and given that name. Before the baby can say My father, Assyria will plunder Damascus and Samaria.
2 Nephi 18:5-10The Waters of Shiloah That Go Softly
5The Lord spake also unto me again, saying: 6Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son; 7Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria and all his glory; and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks. 8And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.
Jerusalem had a gentle stream called Shiloah. The people rejected those quiet waters, so the Lord would let a roaring river, Assyria, flood the land.
Assyria would flood Judah even to the neck, nearly drowning it, but not quite. The land still belongs to Immanuel.
9Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear all ye of far countries; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. 10Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught; speak the word, and it shall not stand; for God is with us.
Nations may plot and arm themselves, but their plans will fail, for God is with us. That phrase is the meaning of Immanuel.
2 Nephi 18:11-18Sanctify the Lord of Hosts Himself
11For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying: 12Say ye not, A confederacy, to all to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 13Sanctify the Lord of Hosts himself, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Everyone around Isaiah is afraid of conspiracies. The Lord tells him: don't fear what they fear. Make the Lord your fear, and you will not need to fear anything else.
14And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15And many among them shall stumble and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
16Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. 17And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. 18Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of Hosts, which dwelleth in Mount Zion.
Isaiah seals up his testimony among his disciples and decides to wait upon the Lord, even while the Lord seems hidden. Waiting is an act of faith.
2 Nephi 18:19-22To the Law and to the Testimony
19And when they shall say unto you: Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and mutter—should not a people seek unto their God for the living to hear from the dead? 20To the law and to the testimony; and if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
When people urge you to consult mediums, Isaiah asks: shouldn't a people seek their God? Measure every voice by the law and the testimony.
21And they shall pass through it hardly bestead and hungry; and it shall come to pass that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward. 22And they shall look unto the earth and behold trouble, and darkness, dimness of anguish, and shall be driven to darkness.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- How Did Nephi Read Isaiah as a Witness of Christ’s Coming?Connects Isaiah's warning of a stone of stumbling in this chapter with the way Nephi and Jacob foresaw people rejecting Christ.
- ImmanuelBackground on the name that appears twice in this chapter, as O Immanuel (v. 8) and as God is with us (v. 10).
- IsaiahBackground on Isaiah's ministry in the days of Ahaz and Hezekiah, the setting for the signs in this chapter.
Where this echoes in Scripture
Swift Spoil, Speedy Prey
- 2 Nephi 11:3Wherefore, by the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my word.
- 2 Corinthians 13:1In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
- 2 Nephi 17:16Before the child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.
The Waters of Shiloah That Go Softly
- John 9:7Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.)
- 1 Kings 19:12And after the fire a still small voice.
- Matthew 1:23They shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
- 2 Kings 19:34For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
Sanctify the Lord of Hosts Himself
- 1 Peter 2:7-8Unto you therefore which believe he is precious... a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence.
- Jacob 4:15By the stumbling of the Jews they will reject the stone upon which they might build and have safe foundation.
- Hebrews 2:13I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
- D&C 88:84To bind up the law and seal up the testimony, and to prepare the saints for the hour of judgment which is to come.
- Isaiah 40:31They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength.
To the Law and to the Testimony
- Isaiah 8:19Should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?The Bible wording.
- Moroni 7:16The Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil.
- Leviticus 19:31Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards.
- 2 Nephi 19:2The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.