“Shall Cast His Idols of Silver and His Idols of Gold”

K. Douglas Bassett

(Isa. 2:20; refer in Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Bassett, to 3 Ne. 13:19–24, 33)

The Lord says we would throw our idols of gold and silver which men worship in these days, to the moles and the bats, and we have nearly done this, have we not? You do not have much gold and did not the Government take it and bury it? This is close to giving it to bats and moles.

(Joseph Fielding Smith, The Signs of the Times [Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1952], 56.)

The imagery of verse 20 is striking: the people will throw their gold and silver idols to moles and bats, animals who are blind from living so long in darkness. The irony of this is that people who understood the material value of the precious metals, and should also have seen the spiritual impotence of the idols, will throw these precious items to animals who will not be able to see them at all.

(Victor L. Ludlow, Isaiah: Prophet, Seer, and Poet [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1982], 92.)

Commentaries on Isaiah: In the Book or Mormon

References