It’s time to move away from the record of Alma(2). I would like to study the teachings of Nephi(1). I would like to start with Nephi(1)’s teachings after his record of Isaiah in 2 Nephi.
Chapter 25
Nephi glories in plainness—Isaiah's prophecies shall be understood in the last days—The Jews shall return from Babylon, crucify the Messiah, and be scattered and scourged—They shall be restored when they believe in the Messiah—He shall first come six hundred years after Lehi left Jerusalem—Nephites keep the law of Moses and believe in Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel. About 559–545 B.C.
1 NOW I, Nephi, do speak somewhat concerning the words which I have written, which have been spoken by the mouth of Isaiah. For behold, Isaiah spake many things which were hard for many of my people to understand; for they know not concerning the manner of prophesying among the Jews.
2 For I, Nephi, have not taught them many things concerning the manner of the Jews; for their works were works of darkness, and their doings were doings of abominations.
3 Wherefore, I write unto my people, unto all those that shall receive hereafter these things which I write, that they may know the judgments of God, that they come upon all nations, according to the word which he hath spoken.
2 Nephi 25:1-3 (Emphasis mine)
Nephi(1) shared the teachings of Isaiah with his people. Here he begins his commentary. He begins by saying that the words of Isaiah were hard for his people to understand because they didn’t understand the manner of prophesying among the Jews.
Hugh Nibley comments:
“[Nephi] gives his explanation in chapter 25, and that's what interests us. Let's start at chapter 25 where he gives his explanation of Isaiah which is very important for understanding these things. ‘Isaiah spake many things which were hard for many of my people to understand.’ Isaiah himself often mentions the fact that the people ask him to speak smooth things. They want to hear smooth things. I am not going to teach you smooth things, he says. If I just gave you the smooth things you want, you wouldn't need them [paraphrased]. If the scriptures told us only what we wanted to hear, of course we wouldn't need them.” [1] (Emphasis mine)
Matthew Roper explains that Nephi(1)’s explanation gives hints there might have been others living here when he arrived in the New World.
“If there were others in the land, it would also help explain why many of Nephi's people had difficulty understanding Isaiah, although not all of them did (2 Nephi 25:1—6). Converts who had never lived in the ancient Near East would have lacked the historical and cultural background that made the words of Isaiah ‘plain’ to Nephi. It is also apparent that some Isaiah passages cited by Nephite prophets would make better sense to a Nephite if there were others in the land.” [2] (Emphasis mine)
4 Wherefore, hearken, O my people, which are of the house of Israel, and give ear unto my words; for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy. But I give unto you a prophecy, according to the spirit which is in me; wherefore I shall prophesy according to the plainness which hath been with me from the time that I came out from Jerusalem with my father; for behold, my soul delighteth in plainness unto my people, that they may learn.
5 Yea, and my soul delighteth in the words of Isaiah, for I came out from Jerusalem, and mine eyes hath beheld the things of the Jews, and I know that the Jews do understand the things of the prophets, and there is none other people that understand the things which were spoken unto the Jews like unto them, save it be that they are taught after the manner of the things of the Jews.
6 But behold, I, Nephi, have not taught my children after the manner of the Jews; but behold, I, of myself, have dwelt at Jerusalem, wherefore I know concerning the regions round about; and I have made mention unto my children concerning the judgments of God, which hath come to pass among the Jews, unto my children, according to all that which Isaiah hath spoken, and I do not write them.
2 Nephi 25:4-6 (Emphasis mine)
Nephi(1) tells us that the words of Isaiah are plain to those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy. Since he has that spirit, he will prophesy according to plainness as his heart delights in plainness.
He delights in Isaiah. Having come from Jerusalem, he knows and understands the things of the Jews.
Grant Hardy explains the importance of Nephi(1)’s background.
“Nephi was the only Book of Mormon author to receive what might be called a classical Hebrew education. He had ambivalent feelings about his training—indeed, he specifically noted that the tradition would end with himself: ‘I . . . have not taught my children after the manner of the Jews’ (2 Nephi 25:6; see vv. 1—2). So it is not surprising that he remains the most literate, book-learned of the Nephite prophets.” [3] (Emphasis mine0
Hugh Nibley explains:
“He explains that without a radical reinterpretation by him, his people could not even begin to comprehend what the prophets were talking about: ‘The words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, (emphasis in original)’ he tells them frankly (2 Nephi 25:4), being written in a special idiom that only the Jews understood (2 Nephi 25:5), and that Nephi understands because he knows their cultural and historical setting: ‘I, of myself, have dwelt at Jerusalem, wherefore I know concerning the regions round about’ (2 Nephi 25:6).” [4] (Emphasis mine)
[1] Lecture 20: 2 Nephi 25, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 21, 2011.
[2] Nephi's Neighbors: Book of Mormon Peoples and Pre-Columbian Populations, Matthew Roper, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, December 21, 2011.
[3] 2 Nephi 26 and 27 as Midrash, Grant R. Hardy, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 21, 2011.
[4] The Bible in the Book of Mormon, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 21, 2011.
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