Beginning with verse 14, Nephi(1) is taking a different approach to Isaiah 29. Instead of quoting the chapter directly, he quotes the chapter and includes commentary, observation, and prophecy.
Grant Hardy describes the process.
“Nephi's technique of prophecy through quotation is a striking feature of his writing, yet there are two chapters where his usage of earlier scripture is even more precisely organized. Rather than simply working Isaiah's words and phrases into his own discourse (impressive as that may be), in 2 Nephi 26 and 27 he quotes nearly all of Isaiah 29, a phrase here and a phrase there, but in order, as he provides a new framework that particularizes that earlier prophecy and explains how it was to be fulfilled in latter days when Martin Harris took the page of reformed Egyptian to Charles Anthon in 1828. We sometimes speak of ‘reading between the lines,’ but here Nephi is ‘writing between the lines.’ “ [1] (Emphasis mine)
Garold Davis explains why Nephi(1) would take this approach.
“It is perfectly understandable why Nephi should wish to give us such a careful comment on Isaiah 29. First, according to Nephi's understanding, Isaiah is prophesying in part about Nephi's own people—his ‘seed,’ a branch of the house of Israel that has been scattered and that ‘in the last days’ will be brought back as part of the rebuilding of the house of Israel. Second, Isaiah is prophesying about Nephi's own book, the record of his people that later would become the Book of Mormon. We can only imagine the excitement and gratitude Nephi must have felt when through ‘the spirit of prophecy’ (2 Nephi 25:4) he realized the prophecies in Isaiah 29 applied specifically to his people and his sacred record.” [2] (Emphasis mine)
Now to Nephi(1)’s record. (Note: The direct quotes from Isaiah will be identified with both italics and underlining.)
14 But behold, I prophesy unto you concerning the last days; concerning the days when the Lord God shall bring these things forth unto the children of men. 15 After my seed and the seed of my brethren shall have dwindled in unbelief, and shall have been smitten by the Gentiles; yea, after the Lord God shall have camped against them round about, and shall have laid siege against them with a mount, and raised forts against them; and after they shall have been brought down low in the dust, even that they are not, yet the words of the righteous shall be written, and the prayers of the faithful shall be heard, and all those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not be forgotten. 16 For those who shall be destroyed shall speak unto them out of the ground, and their speech shall be low out of the dust, and their voice shall be as one that hath a familiar spirit; for the Lord God will give unto him power, that he may whisper concerning them, even as it were out of the ground; and their speech shall whisper out of the dust.
2 Nephi 26:14-16 (Emphasis mine)
Nephi(1) begins by telling us he is prophesying concerning the last days. It is at this time his record will be brought forth.
Because of their unbelief, both his posterity and the posterity of his brothers will smitten by the gentiles. They will be brought down low in the dust. But, because of the prayers of the faithful, they will not be forgotten.
His record will speak to them out of the ground, out of the dust. The voice will be one that has a familiar spirit.
This concept of a “familiar spirit” has been misunderstood. Critics refer to a “familiar spirit” as something evil. Reality is not that simple. Paul Hoskisson gives a detailed explanation. (The entire article is worth reading.)
“Therefore, when the Bible says in Isaiah 29:4 that the inhabitants of Jerusalem who will be destroyed will speak ‘out of the ground . . . as of one that hath a familiar spirit,’ the meaning is that destroyed Judah will speak from the dead, that is, from the records they left behind, the Old Testament, and without the aid of a medium. This has nothing to do with necromancy and divination, but everything to do with the dead speaking to the living through the records the dead leave behind. This is made even clearer in 2 Nephi 26:16 where Isaiah is paraphrased and applied to the Nephites who will, like the inhabitants of Jerusalem, be destroyed. They also shall speak ‘out of the ground . . . as one that hath a familiar spirit; for the Lord God will give unto him [Joseph Smith] power, that he [the translator of the Nephite records] may whisper concerning [the destroyed Nephites], even as it were out of the ground’ where they are buried, and where the plates had been buried.
As can be seen, the reader has the choice of interpreting 2 Nephi 26:16 [in the way most familiar to the reader], reading into these passages the meaning ‘a spirit which seems familiar,’ or [looking at the context and wording in the scripture], reading out of these passages ‘a message from those who have passed on before us.’ Both ways of approaching 2 Nephi 26:16 are correct and legitimate methods that can lead to enlightenment and understanding.” [3] (Emphasis mine)
17 For thus saith the Lord God: They shall write the things which shall be done among them, and they shall be written and sealed up in a book, and those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not have them, for they seek to destroy the things of God. 18 Wherefore, as those who have been destroyed have been destroyed speedily; and the multitude of their terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away—yea, thus saith the Lord God: It shall be at an instant, suddenly— 19 And it shall come to pass, that those who have dwindled in unbelief shall be smitten by the hand of the Gentiles.
2 Nephi 26:17-19 (Emphasis mine)
After the book has been written, the Lord commanded that it be sealed as a protection against those who would destroy the things of God. Once again, Nephi(1) reminds us that the gentiles will smite those who have dwindled in unbelief.
Hugh Nibley comments:
“First of all, there is something almost alarmingly literal about these ‘voices from the dust.’ For these documents were deliberately buried in the deep dust of the cave floors and came forth in choking clouds of dust—the finders had to wear masks: ‘For those who shall be destroyed shall be low out of the dust, and their voice shall be as one that hath a familiar spirit; for the Lord God will give unto him power, that he may whisper concerning them, even as it were out of the ground; and their speech shall whisper out of the dust’ (2 Nephi 26:16). They have not survived accidentally, as most other ancient writings have, but were hidden away on purpose; nor were they simply left behind or misplaced or forgotten by people who moved on and lived out their lives elsewhere—the people who left these records died soon after they buried them and died on the spot, the victims of a savage religious war. ‘For those who shall be destroyed shall speak unto them out of the ground’ (2 Nephi 26:16). What do these records contain? Accounts of contemporary affairs in private letters, legal documents, military and civil correspondence, or, in the words of the Book of Mormon: ‘For thus saith the Lord God: They shall write the things which shall be done among them. . . . Wherefore, as those who have been destroyed speedily’ (2 Nephi 26:17–18).” [4] (Emphasis mine)
John Welch explains the importance of sealing records.
“… [T]he process of sealing up the Nephite records served several practical and religious purposes. To keep the record pure, Nephi and his posterity were instructed that the records should be ‘sealed up to come forth in their purity’ (1 Nephi 14:26). As further protection against destruction, the Lord instructed his scribes to seal up the writings in a book so that ‘those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not have them, for they seek to destroy the things of God’ (2 Nephi 26:17). Prophetically, Nephi reported that the book would be dedicated to the Lord, ‘sealed up again unto the Lord’ (2 Nephi 30:3).” [5] (Emphasis mine)
[1] 2 Nephi 26 and 27 as Midrash, Grant R. Hardy, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 29, 2011.
[2] Pattern and Purpose of the Isaiah Commentaries in the Book of Mormon, Garold N. Davis, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 29, 2011.
[3] The "Familiar Spirit" in 2 Nephi 26:16, Paul Y. Hoskisson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 29, 2011.
[4] Churches in the Wilderness, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 29, 2011.
[5] Doubled, Sealed, Witnessed Documents: From the Ancient World to the Book of Mormon, John W. Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 29, 2011.
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