Chapter 6
Jacob recounts Jewish
history: Their Babylonian captivity and return; the ministry and crucifixion of
the Holy One of Israel; the help received from the gentiles; and their Latter-day
restoration when they believe in the Messiah. About 559–545 B.C.
Nephi gave Jacob a command to preach to Nephites, giving him
the topic of Isaiah 50 and 51. This was
not the first time Jacob had preached to the Nephites. “[Y]ou
know I have spoken unto you exceedingly many things” (2 Nephi 6:2).
Jacob begins by declaring his authority to preach to the
people. “I, Jacob, having been called of God, and ordained after the manner of
his holy order, and having been consecrated by my brother Nephi” (2 Nephi
6:2). Then, he adds an interesting
statement about Nephi’s kingship. He
said they looked to Nephi “as a king or a
protector, and on whom ye depend for safety” (2 Nephi 6:2). According to Noel Reynolds, Jacob tells us
Nephi was not a king.
Another sentence that might seem to
be an indication of Nephi's kingship occurs in Jacob's first recorded address
to the Nephites. Jacob provides bona fides for his sermonizing
by citing his own ordination and his "having been consecrated by ...
Nephi, unto whom ye look as a king or a protector, and on whom
ye depend for safety" (2 Nephi 6:2). But even here Jacob does not say
Nephi was king, only that he was looked upon as a king. The
ambiguity of the characterization is further emphasized by Jacob's provision of
an alternate characterization—"or a protector."[1]
Jacob preaches to them for the welfare of their souls. He has, with all diligence, taught them the
words of Lehi and “concerning all things
which are written from the creation of the world” (2 Nephi 6:3).
Jacob tells them that, as they hear the words of Isaiah,
that he spoke many things “which may be
likened unto you, because year of the house of Israel” (2 Nephi 6:5). Here, he was following the example of Nephi –
“did read unto them that which was written
by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be
for our profit and learning” (1 Nephi 19:23).
At the beginning of his discourse,
Jacob stated that he read to his people the words of Isaiah that "they may
be likened unto you, for ye are the house of Israel" (2 Nephi 6:5). Today,
the same advice could be given of Jacob's speech. Though separated by 2,600
years, we can liken his words to us and in so doing "cheer up" our
hearts, remembering that, thanks to the Divine Warrior, we too "are free
to act for ourselves."[2]
Jacob reads the following words of Isaiah:
Thus
saith the Lord God: Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set
up my standard to the people; and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy
daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
And
kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers; they
shall bow down to thee with their faces towards the earth, and lick up the dust
of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be
ashamed that wait for me.
2 Nephi 6:6–7 (See also Isaiah 49:22-23)
Jacob added his testimony to that of Lehi that Jerusalem had
been destroyed (see 2 Nephi 1:14). Nephi
would later add his testimony that he people had been carried captive into
Jerusalem (see 2 Nephi 25:10). But, the
Jews will return to Jerusalem (2 Nephi 6:9).
The day would come when the Savior would appear to them, but they would
reject him, scourging and crucifying him.
The Jews will be scattered throughout the world as a
consequence of their actions. They will
suffer afflictions and be hated by the people.
The day will then come that they will be brought to a knowledge of their
Redeemer and gathered again “in the land
of their inheritance” (2 Nephi 6:11).
The Lord will bless then gentiles if they repent and not
fight against Zion. Jacob was referring
back to Nephi’s vision.
AND
it shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God
in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power,
in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling blocks—
And
harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God, they shall be numbered among
the seed of thy father; yea, they shall be numbered among the house of Israel;
and they shall be a blessed people upon the promised land forever; they shall
be no more brought down into captivity; and the house of Israel shall no more
be confounded.
And
that great pit, which hath been digged for them by that great and abominable
church, which was founded by the devil and his children, that he might lead
away the souls of men down to hell—yea, that great pit which hath been digged
for the destruction of men shall be filled by those who digged it, unto their
utter destruction, saith the Lamb of God; not the destruction of the soul, save
it be the casting of it into that hell which hath no end.
For
behold, this is according to the captivity of the devil, and also according to
the justice of God, upon all those who will work wickedness and abomination
before him.
And
it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, Nephi, saying: Thou hast beheld
that if the Gentiles repent it shall be well with them; and thou also knowest
concerning the covenants of the Lord unto the house of Israel; and thou also
hast heard that whoso repenteth not must perish.
1 Nephi 14:1-5
[1] Nephite
Kingship Reconsidered. Noel B. Reynolds, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute,
accessed August 20, 2013.
[2] "I Will Contend with Them That
Contendeth with Thee": The Divine Warrior in Jacob's Speech of 2 Nephi
6-10, Daniel Belnap, Provo,
Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed August 20, 2013.
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