Isaiah 8 – Judah Spared from Assyria – 2 Nephi 18:1-22

1 Moreover, the word of the Lord said unto me: Take thee a great roll [formally documented on a scroll], and write in it with a man’s pen, concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz. [Isaiah’s son to be born.]

2 And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record [the date of the prophecy], Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.

3 And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived and bare a son.[Read more about Isaiah’s prophetess wife, A Witness of the Temporal Dispensations, pg. 137, 141 ] Then said the Lord to me: Call his name, Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

4 For behold, the child shall not have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, [before the child can utter the word “father, mother” the invasion will begin.] before the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria. [the meaning behind the name]

5 The Lord spake also unto me again, saying:

6 Forasmuch as this people [Northern Israel] refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly [refusing to make themselves clean and holy before God], and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son [leadership of the Northern Kingdoms];

7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river [armies of destruction], strong and many, even the king of Assyria and all his glory; and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks. [He will cross his boundaries.]

8 And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.  [Deep into Israel.]

9 Associate yourselves, [try and come here (Just try it!)] O ye people [Assyrians], and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear [listen] all ye of far countries; gird yourselves [prepare to defend], and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.

10 Take [try to] counsel together, and it shall come to naught [nothing]; speak the word [command], and it shall not stand; for God is with us.

11 For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people [not capitulate], saying:

12 Say ye not, A confederacy [an alliance], to all to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. [Isaiah told to tell King Hezekiah not be afraid of Assyria, but of God.]

13 Sanctify the Lord of Hosts himself [Make yourself holy before the Lord.], and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

14 And he shall be for a sanctuary [your protection] ; but for [Assyria] a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel [a destruction to the House of Israel], for a gin [trap] and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

15 And many among them shall stumble and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.  [Many of Israel shall fall.]

16 Bind up [strengthen] the testimony, seal [know and live] the law among my disciples.

17 And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face [shows not Himself] from the house of Jacob [the people of the covenant], and I will look for him. [seek Him]

18 Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me [Maher-shalal-hash-baz] are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of Hosts, which dwelleth in Mount Zion. [Jerusalem]

19 And when they shall say unto you: Seek unto them that have familiar spirits [that channel the dead], and unto wizards that peep and mutter [predict the future]—should not a people seek unto their God for the living to hear from the dead?

20 To the law and to the testimony [of God]; and if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

21 And they [the armies of Assyria] shall pass through it hardly bestead  [with no avail, unsuccessful] and hungry; and it shall come to pass that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret [worry] themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward. [pray to their false Gods]

22 And they shall look unto the earth and behold trouble, and darkness, dimness of anguish, and shall be driven to darkness. [The earth shall spew death upon them. 2 Kings 19:35]

A story that was well known to the Nephites. Similar to the American story of George Washington’s miraculous defeat of the British. Perhaps more dramatic for the people of Jerusalem! Why would these chapters be included in the spiritual history of Nephi? Will God spare the righteous in such a manner during a future last days event? Yes.