Book of Mormon Commentary CofC - Odessa, Missouri Community ...

Book of Mormon Commentary
2 Nephi Chapter 9
conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost" (Matt. 2:3). No other place in the Bible gives any account
of another virgin birth.
The setting of this prophecy in Isaiah revealed that "the Lord himself shall give you [King Ahaz of
Judah] a sign" (II N. 9:27). The birth of this child was to occur, and before he should know good
from evil, Judah's enemies (Syria and Samaria) should be forsaken by her two kings ( 29) .
The Revised Standard Version, 1952, translated the Hebrew almah, as "a young woman," and
caused much criticism. Most all of the older versions follow the Septuagint (the Greek version,
250 B.C.) which translates this word "virgin." Some scholars say the correct meaning of the
Hebrew term is "maiden." The Interpreter's Bible commentator says, "the word almah means a
young woman of marriageable age, possibly a virgin." This acknowledgment leaves little basis for
controversy.
2 Ne 9:66 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his
shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace.
2 Ne 9:67 Of the increase of government and peace there is no end, upon the throne of David, and upon
his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for
ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
9:66, 67 This passage is from Isaiah 9:6, 7 and is often used to signify the Messianic hope.
It is true that if the Jews had cherished anything but a high spiritual ideal of the divine monarch,
they might have hailed many a messiah, for they had great and good kings. But in the very purity
of their ideal they doomed themselves to disappointment - until in the fullness of time a king came
not with panoply and splendor, but "lowly, and riding upon an ass (Zech. 9:9). By faith Isaiah saw
him. To him are given the titles no earthly king could hope to justify.
The final term in the series of titles, "The Prince of Peace" has become universally associated with
Jesus who came to “bring "peace on earth." Only in the Christian image is it possible to find a
successor for David's throne who fits the dimensions, the power, and the glory of this ruler. His
divinity in this context is established by the title "The mighty God."
2 Ne 9:121 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the
calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
9:121 This passage is the beginning of a notable prophecy of the millennial reign of Christ on this
redeemed earth. Isaiah also beheld the "cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie
down together" (122). He said, "the suckling child shall play on the hole of the asp [a serpent,
perhaps an adder]" (123). "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth
shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (124).
Here is a beautiful picture of men living together in peace, the heaven for which men have prayed
daily since Jesus taught his disciples to pray "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it
is done in heaven" (Matt. 6:11).
And as though this paradise were insufficient, the prophet pictured a time when the Carnivora
shall be rendered harmless to each other and to man.