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Book of Mormon Commentary
2 Nephi Chapter 8
8:20 This introduction of and presentation concerning the Messianic reign is the hope of the
world. Judgment shall precede the millennial reign, and some will come forth from their graves
and have part in the era of peace. Others shall not come forth until the thousand rears are ended.
Satan will be loosed for a little season, and all the dead as well as the living will stand before
God's judgment bar to be assigned to eternal glories according to their works.
Isaiah 2: 1-4 and Micah 4: 1-3 are the same as II Nephi 8:17-20. Scholars have no definite
evidence as to whether the original source is Micah or Isaiah. It is possibly an editorial insert in
one or both of them, but is a very choice prophecy worthy of repetition. Micah 4:4 follows on with
this further prophecy: "But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none
shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it."
The rise of this kingdom of peace is to "come to pass in the last day" (II N. 8:18; Isa. 2:2; Mic.
4:1). The term "rebuke many people" is easier understood in the Revised Standard Version which
says, "decide for many people," referring to the judgment.
Since Nephi's record follows Isaiah with only slight variations to the end of Chapter 10 (Isaiah
Chapter 14), This commentary will not attempt to present the text verse by verse. An interpretative
discussion is available in the Interpreter's Bible, Volume V; and several one-volume works, such
as The Abingdon Bible Commentary and The One Volume Bible Commentary by J. R.
Dummelow. Where there are verses of particular interest to Book of Mormon students some
discussion of them will be given.
2 Ne 8:65 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.
8:65 This prophecy grew out of the conditions of war (63, 64), when many of the able bodied men
had been killed. The shame or "reproach," according to Hebrew tradition, was for a woman to be
childless (Gen. 30:23; I Sam. 1:6). To bear no man's name was to be without standing in the
community (Ruth 4:10).
There is no evidence in this prophecy that divine sanction was to be given to any plural marriage
arrangement. The Book of Mormon (Jb. 2:31-33, 46) and the latter-day revelations condemn
polygamy (D. and C. 42:7 d, e; 49:3a-c; 111:4a, b).