2 Nephi 25:7-14

7  But behold, I proceed with mine own prophecy, according to my plainness; in the which I know that no man can err; nevertheless, in the days that the prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled men shall know of a surety, at the times when they shall come to pass.

8  Wherefore, they are of worth unto the children of men, and he that supposeth that they are not, unto them will I speak particularly, and confine the words unto mine own people; for I know that they shall be of great worth unto them in the last days; for in that day shall they understand them; wherefore, for their good have I written them.

2 Nephi 25:7-8 (Emphasis mine)

Nephi(1) tells us he will continue with his own prophecy, in plainness.  Nephi(1) uses the term “plainness” a number of times in reference to his words.  What does he mean by this.  Richard Rust has some observations.

“Some might think that since Nephi affirms the plainness of his writing (see for example 2 Nephi 25:7, 33:6), it is unliterary. Quite the contrary. Nephi uses poetic and rhetorical rhythms and structures with powerful effectiveness. By the word ‘plain’ he means ‘easy to understand’ (1Nephi 14:23, 16:29)—and indeed, impossible to be misunderstood (2 Nephi 25:7, 28). Perhaps it is Nephi's claim to such a style, however, that has kept many from thinking about the book in literary terms. As Nibley has commented, it contains none of the ‘fantastic imagery, the romantic descriptions, and the unfailing exaggerations that everyone expected in the literature of [Joseph Smith's] time.”  [1] (Emphasis mine)

Why does he quote Isaiah so much in his record.  The words of Isaiah are “of worth to the children of men.”  Since they are prophecies that refer to the Jews, he believes they are important to those in the last days.  Hugh Nibley comments:

“In explaining Isaiah to his people, Nephi makes some important points. Much remains of Isaiah's words to be fulfilled, he tells them, and in whatever age a fulfillment takes place his words stand as a witness, each fulfillment guaranteeing the validity of the prophecies whose fulfillment yet remains (2 Nephi 25:7); hence his writings are of peculiar ‘worth unto the children of men’ in general (2 Nephi 25:8).” [2]    (Emphasis mine) 

9  And as one generation hath been destroyed among the Jews because of iniquity, even so have they been destroyed from generation to generation according to their iniquities; and never hath any of them been destroyed save it were foretold them by the prophets of the Lord.

10  Wherefore, it hath been told them concerning the destruction which should come upon them, immediately after my father left Jerusalem; nevertheless, they hardened their hearts; and according to my prophecy they have been destroyed, save it be those which are carried away captive into Babylon.

11  And now this I speak because of the spirit which is in me.  And notwithstanding they have been carried away they shall return again, and possess the land of Jerusalem; wherefore, they shall be restored again to the land of their inheritance.

2 Nephi 25:9-11 (Emphasis mine)

Why are Isaiah’s prophecies important?  The Jews have suffered because of their sin.  Yet,  they were not destroyed save the prophets warned them of their destruction.  An example of this was the warnings given them before Lehi and company left Jerusalem. 

Nephi(1) reminds us that he had been told that Jerusalem had been destroyed.  Even so, the day will come that they will return and gain the land of their inheritance.

12  But, behold, they shall have wars, and rumors of wars; and when the day cometh that the Only Begotten of the Father, yea, even the Father of heaven and of earth, shall manifest himself unto them in the flesh, behold, they will reject him, because of their iniquities, and the hardness of their hearts, and the stiffness of their necks.

13  Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God.  Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name.

14  And behold it shall come to pass that after the Messiah hath risen from the dead, and hath manifested himself unto his people, unto as many as will believe on his name, behold, Jerusalem shall be destroyed again; for wo unto them that fight against God and the people of his church.

2 Nephi 25:12-14 (Emphasis mine)

Nephi(1) begins to prophecy about Christ.  He will be born among the Jews.  Because of their wickedness, they will reject Him and crucify Him.  He will lie in the grave for three days and will rise from the dead.  All who believe in Him will be saved in the kingdom of God.  After He has risen, He will appear to His people; however, after this Jerusalem will be destroyed.  (Again, we see that the Jews are warned before the destruction occurs).

1  AND Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

2  And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things?  verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Matthew 24:1-2 (Emphasis mine)

24  And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Luke 21:24 (Emphasis mine)

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[1] "To Come Forth in Due Time" – Introduction, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 22, 2011.

[2] The Bible in the Book of Mormon, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 22, 2011.

2 Nephi 25:1-6

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)

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[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.