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Book of Mormon Commentary
2 Nephi Chapter 11
2 Ne 11:25 Wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered among all nations; yea, and also Babylon shall be
destroyed; wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered by other nations;
11:25 Although the city and the temple had been destroyed and thousands of the inhabitants were
driven into foreign lands, some of the exiles returned sixty years later, led by a pretender to
Messianic authority. These tried again to defy Rome. A war began which lasted two years. It is
claimed that 580,000 of the people fell in this conflict, besides those who perished by famine,
pestilence, and fire. At that time, it is said, fifty cities were totally destroyed, and Judea was left a
desert. From that time Jews have been a foreign element in nearly every country on earth, in Asia,
in Europe, in Africa, and America. According to a decree of Emperor Hadrian, Jews were
prohibited, on the pain of death, to enter Jerusalem.
After this disaster, Nephi adds, " And the Lord God hath scourged them by other nations, for the
space of many generations ...until they shall be persuaded to believe in Christ" (26).
At that time they shall be restored "from their lost and fallen state" (28), and a marvelous thing
will happen to Israel. "Wherefore, he shall bring forth his words unto them, which words shall
judge them at the last day" (30). This must refer to the Book of Mormon and latter-day revelations.
One of the stated purposes of the Book of Mormon is to convince the children of Israel" that Jesus
is their Messiah. Or, as Nephi put it, "They shall be given them for the purpose of convincing them
of the true Messiah, who was rejected by them" (31). "They need not look forward any more for a
Messiah to come”. (32). "His name shall be Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (36).
2 Ne 11:38 And as the Lord God liveth, that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave unto
Moses power that he should heal the nations, after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if
they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them, and also gave him power
that he should smite the rock, and the water should come forth;
11:38 This refers to "the twelve tribes of Israel" as nations, and according to his prophetic vision,
they were many small republics. The incident of the scourge of serpents is recorded in Numbers
21:6-9. Moses made a serpent of brass (or copper) and put it on a pole. Those who looked on it in
faith were healed. John said this was symbolic of Christ being lifted up upon the cross (John 3:14,
15). Nephi and Helaman refer to the brass serpent (I N. 5:134, 135; H. 3:47, 48). Quetzalcoatl, the
feathered serpent, was a symbol used in ancient America.
The brazen serpent was kept as a national relic for at least seven hundred years. It was destroyed
by King Hezekiah because it had become an object of idolatry (II Kings 18:4).
2 Ne 11:39 Yea, behold, I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is
none other name given under heaven, save it be this Jesus Christ of which I have spoken, whereby man
can be saved.
11:39 John made it very clear that we are to ask the Father in Jesus' name (John 14:13; 15:16;
16:23-26). Peter testified under divine power, “There is none other name under heaven given
among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
Paul discussed this approach to God in his Philippian letter, “At the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth" (Phil. 2:10).