“The Lord of Hosts Shall Lop the Bough with Terror”

Brant Gardner

Isaiah, comfortingly, repeats the prediction that Yahweh will turn his wrath upon the Assyrians, halting their advance, humiliating them, and humbling their pride. In parallel fashion, the triumphant Messiah will similarly subdue his enemies at his triumphal return.

Literature: The Assyrian armies are evoked in the density of the forests and thickets. Cutting down the forests and thickets images the way Yahweh will destroy those armies. This “lop[ping] the bough” echoes the deforestation of 2 Nephi 20:18–19.

Likening: Isaiah declares that Yahweh has power over the Assyrians, even though he has used them as the tool for chastising Israel. Nephi has seen that there will be nations that will defeat his descendants. He similarly declares that they too will be subject to Yahweh’s will.

Text: The chapter does not end here in the 1830 edition.

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 2

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