2 Nephi 17:21-22

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Reference Search: 2 Nephi 17:21-22

21 And it shall come to pass in that day, a man shall nourish a young cow and two sheep;

22 And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk they shall give he shall eat butter; for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land.

Quote for Discussion

nourish a young cow, and two sheep. This speaks of the poverty of those who remain in Judah after the Assyrian invasion. Residents who are permitted to remain in the land will be poor in comparison to the pre-war years. They will no longer possess large herds of cattle or large vineyards (7:23). They will own only two sheep and a young cow, and they will find it a struggle to nourish their livestock.

abundance of milk. Ancient Israel was called a land flowing with milk and honey (Ex. 3:8; 13:5) to symbolize its fertile and productive nature, but all that remains now is butter and wild honey. Fresh milk in abundance is gone; only a milk product, butter (which can be stored longer than fresh milk), remains.

butter/honey. Those who are not deported by Assyria and thus remain in Israel will eat the very basics of a pastoral culture: butter and honey. Produce (grains, fruits, and other items) will no longer be available because of the war-torn status of the community, economic upheaval, and lack of cultivated lands.

Parry, Parry, Peterson, Understanding Isaiah, p. 78-79