(Isa. 11:15–16; 35:8–10; Jer. 23:7–8; D&C 133:26–32; Isaiah Speaks to Modern Times, Skousen, 114–119.)
The word tongue should be translated “gulf.” This phrase recalls the occasion when Moses and the Israelites crossed the Red Sea on dry ground (Ex. 14:21–22), an event that anticipates the gathering in the last days, when no powerful nation, mortal tyrant, or army will stop the promised events of the gathering of the saints around God’s standard.
With his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river … and make men go over dryshod. Three elements in this passage, mighty wind, hand, and go over dryshod, recall the Israelites’ crossing of the Red Sea. “Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land … And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground” (Ex. 14:21–22; emphasis added). The same powers that guided the ancient Israelites out of Egypt will guide modern Israel out of symbolic Egypt (the world) to their gathering places.
(Donald W. Parry, Jay A. Parry, and Tina M. Peterson, Understanding Isaiah [ Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1998], 124.)
Various interpretations have been rendered for the term “tongue of the Egyptian sea” in verse fifteen. It might be the western arm of the Red Sea (or Gulf of Suez) near the Suez Canal. Another possibility is the delta (or tongue) of the Nile that protrudes into the Mediterranean Sea along Egypt’s north coast. The most likely explanation would be the large inland sea created late each spring as the Nile overflows its banks and floods a large part of the valley, like a tongue sticking far inland. Isaiah 19:5–10 describes this event in greater detail. This prophecy has been fulfilled since the building of the Aswan Dam and the destruction of the traditional way of life along the Nile.
The Lord will also divert “the river” (usually understood to be the Euphrates River) into seven streams so travelers can walk across without getting their feet wet. Verse sixteen says that a highway will be prepared for the remnant of Israel coming from Assyria (the land on the other side of the Euphrates). Isaiah 19:23–25 prophesies of a highway all the way from Assyria (through Israel) to Egypt. Other prophecies also describe a great highway for the righteous in the last days (Isa. 35:8–10; 51:9–11; D&C 133:27).
Although this highway could be a literal, physical road, it may represent any means of transportation, such as an airway or railroad. The Lord did not create a literal road for ancient Israel, but he did prepare the way for them so they would reach their destination. He will do the same for Israel in the last days, and they will recognize his hand in their return (Jer. 16:14–15; 30; 31).
(Victor L. Ludlow, Unlocking The Old Testament [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1981], 159–60.)
I often think when I see gentlemen and ladies sitting in our tabernacles, who have come over this great highway that has been cast up, whether they realize that they are fulfilling the prophecies of Isaiah… . I am satisfied that they do not realize it, but they are fulfilling the revelations of God. The Gentiles are coming to the light of Zion… . When we have got our eyes opened, and our hearts set upon building up the kingdom of God, then will we return and rebuild the waste places of Zion.
(Wilford Woodruff, The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, ed. G. Homer Durham, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1946], 226–27.)
It appears that a way will be provided to assemble the outcasts of Israel again in their promised land. The safe and secure physical arrangements, whatever they may be, will, in fact, be but symbolical of the way of holiness whereon only the righteous can find footing. The way of holiness cannot be other than the strait and narrow path. The wayward tribes, having forsaken the ancient holy way, having been scattered for their wickedness, shall now be gathered because they forsake the world and seek again that whereon the footprints of their fathers are found …
Once forsaken, left alone, now they shall be enfolded in the arms of his love. And oh, what blessings await them!
(Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1982], 327.)
In the last two verses (15, 16) of this prophecy, Isaiah desires to let us know that when the remnant of Israel returns, it shall be aided by God’s power, even as he showed forth his power at the exodus from Egypt under Moses. Notice that Isaiah singles out Egypt and Assyria, two countries that held Israelites in bondage, in connection with his symbolic description of God’s power that shall provide a highway or means for the return of His people in the latter days. He symbolizes the use of the power of the Almighty by telling us that He will cut off or separate the tongue of the Egyptian sea, shake his hand over the Euphrates, smite it into many streams and cause men to go over it dryshod. Perhaps “Egyptian sea” and “River” (vs. 15) are metonyms for places of exile and bondage. Such shall be overthrown when the time of redemption comes. In connection with this verse, see D&C 133:26–34.
(Sidney B. Sperry, Book of Mormon Compendium [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968], 229.)
As the Lord smote the tongue of the Egyptian sea in ancient days, and caused his people to go through on a highway in the midst of those mighty waters which stood like walls on each side of the assembly of Israel. So in the latter days he will not only cut off the tongue of the Egyptian sea, but the river in its seven streams will also be divided and men will go through dryshod. This is the testimony of the prophets concerning the events that are to take place when the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
(Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, 14:66.)
All that God has said with regard to the ten tribes of Israel, strange as it may appear, will come to pass. They will, as has been said concerning them, smite the rock, and the mountains of ice will flow before them, and a great highway will be cast up, and their enemies will become a prey to them; and their records, and their choice treasures they will bring with them to Zion. These things are as true as God lives.
(Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses, 21:301.)
The Jews will be moved upon by and by, and they will return to the land of their fathers, and they will rebuild Jerusalem. These Lamanites here will receive the Gospel of Christ in fulfillment of the revelations of God. The Prophets which have been shut up in the north country with the nine and a half tribes led away by Shalmanezer, King of Assyria, thousands of years ago, will come in remembrance before God; they will smite the rocks and mountains of ice will flow down before them, and those long lost tribes will come forth … and they will be crowned under the hands of the children of Ephraim—the Elders of Israel who dwell in the land of Zion.
(Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses, 18:38.)
Here are the ten tribes of Israel, we know nothing about them only what the Lord has said by His Prophets. There are Prophets among them, and by and by they will come along, and they will smite the rocks, and the mountains of ice will flow down at their presence, and a highway will be cast up before them, and they will come to Zion, receive their endowments, and be crowned under the hands of the children of Ephraim … They will receive their blessings and endowments, from under the children Ephraim.
(Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses, 4:231–32.)
Isaiah … in an apparent reference to the joining of the continents, and using that prophetic imagery for which he has such great renown, says: “Thy land shall be married” (Isa. 62:4). Also in a setting relative to the Millennium and the gathering of Israel, Isaiah says, “There shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left.” That is, those who are left because they have abided the day of our Lord’s coming shall find a highway to lead them to their appointed gathering places. It shall then be, Isaiah says, “like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt” (Isa. 11:16). As the Lord provided a highway through the Red Sea for his people anciently, as they traveled to their promised land, so will he provide a way for them to travel in the latter days. Our latter-day revelation, after stating that the great deep shall be driven back into the north countries and that the continents shall become one land, states that “they who are in the north countries,” meaning the Ten Tribes, shall return. “And an highway shall be cast up in the midst of the great deep” for them (D&C 133:23–27). Would we go too far astray if we were to suggest that the highway is created by the joined landmasses, and that as ancient Israel found a dry path through the Red Sea, so latter-day Israel will find a dry path where the Atlantic Ocean once was?
(Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1982], 624–25.)