2 Nephi 12:1

[pam]

Reference Search: 2 Nephi 12:1

1 The word that Isaiah, the son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

Quote for Discussion

Although Isaiah notes that he saw things concerning Judah and Jerusalem (2:1), his vision includes references to three different peoples and two different lands. He speaks of Judah in the land of Jerusalem, of the "daughters of Zion," and of the "branch of the Lord" in the land of Zion. The prophet Joseph Smith declared, "The prophets have spoken and written upon it [Zion]; but I will make a proclamation that will cover a broader ground. The whole of America is Zion itself from north to south, and is described by the Prophets, who declare that it is the Zion where the mountain of the Lord should be, and that it should be in the center of the land. When elders shall take up and examine the old prophecies in the Bible, they will see it." (TPJS, p. 362.) Thus, the "daughters of Zion" refer to those who inhabit the Americas.

The "branch of the Lord" spoken of by Isaiah consists of those who are "escaped of Israel" (those of Israel who will have escaped the judgments which are to come upon the world in the last days). He speaks of these as being from the daughters of Zion and from Jerusalem. Therefore, the three peoples include the inhabitants of Jerusalem in general, the inhabitants of Zion in general, and the specific group from Zion and Jerusalem who constitute the beautiful and glorious branch of the Lord. The two lands include the land of Jerusalem and the land of the Americas.

Monte S. Nyman, Great are the Words of Isaiah , p.21-22

[rameumptom]

Don't you love how the Prophet Joseph interprets scripture in such a way that reminds one of Jewish Midrashes? It is an ancient and very acceptable form of reading scriptures, "likening them unto" us. The Dead Sea Scrolls include several midrashes that quote scripture and then explain how it applies to the people in that circumstance.

I do not know of any other claimed prophet that ever did perform such great midrash as Joseph Smith.

[pam]

I am unfamiliar with what a "midrash" is. I've not heard that term before. Could you explain a little further so that I might understand it a bit more?

[rameumptom]

Midrash is an ancient commentary on part of the Hebrew scriptures that is based on Jewish methods of interpretation and attached to the biblical text. Another term used is pesher (plural: pesherim).

From Wikipedia:

Midrash (Hebrew: מדרש‎; plural midrashim, lit. "to investigate" or "study") is a homiletic method of biblical exegesis. The term also refers to the whole compilation of homiletic teachings on the Bible.

Midrash is a way of interpreting biblical stories that goes beyond simple distillation of religious, legal or moral teachings. It fills in many gaps left in the biblical narrative regarding events and personalities that are only hinted at.

This is actually an evidence of the Book of Mormon. Nephi quotes pages of Isaiah, but then adds in his Midrash, exegesis, or explanation of what it means, and how it applies to his people. There are several Midrash found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, including the Habakkuk Commentary, You can see a translation of it here (this version uses the word 'Roman' where the word is "Kittim". Kittim refers originally to people of Cypriot, later to Greece, and then was used by the Qumran/DSS people to reference the Romans, or Gentile world power).