2 Nephi 20:28-34

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Reference Search: 2 Nephi 20:28-34

28 He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages.

29 They are gone over the passage; they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramath is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled.

30 Lift up the voice, O daughter of Gallim; cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth.

31 Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee.

32 As yet shall he remain at Nob that day; he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.

33 Behold, the Lord, the Lord of Hosts shall lop the bough with terror; and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down; and the haughty shall be humbled.

34 And he shall cut down the thickets of the forests with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.

Quotes for Discussion

Assyrian March toward Jerusalem

Having given a message of hope and comfort to Israel’s “remnant,” he now gives us a prophetic but graphic description of the Assyrian invasion through towns or near towns on the northern approaches to Jerusalem. We do not know the exact location of all the towns mentioned, but suffice it to say that most of them were in the vicinity of Jerusalem. Aiath (Josh. 7:2) is supposed to have been about nine miles to the north and east of Jerusalem and about two miles northwest of Michmash, which in turn was a little over seven miles from the capital city of Judah. Migron was probably situated between Ai and Mishmash, but has not been identified. Ramath was located just a short distance north of Jerusalem, and Anathoth, the birthplace of Jeremiah, is about three miles northeast of the capital. Nob (city of priests; 1 Sam. 22:19) was obviously near Jerusalem (v. 32), near enough that an enemy leader could be seen waving his hand or shaking his fist at her. Many scholars think that it may have been situated on Mt. Scopus, a hill to the north of Jerusalem.

Isaiah describes the rapid advance of the enemy and pictures the fear and panic that grip the inhabitants of the towns and villages that lie in the immediate path of the Assyrians. In verse 32 we have the climax—at Jerusalem….

Isaiah knows that the power of Israel’s enemies is but temporary; he doubtless keeps constantly in mind the eventual redemption of a remnant of Israel free from enemy oppression. And so he ends this particular prophecy with a prediction of the sudden destruction of Assyria by the Lord. He uses the metaphor of a forest being cut down by the forester’s cutting instrument. The Lord is the divine forester who cuts down and humbles the pride of the forest (Assyria). The boughs of the trees may represent the young men who are slain in battle. The tall trees of the forest would then represent the haughty ruling classes, and the thickets the common people (cf. 19:18; 12:12, 13). The Lord does his work with terrifying power. Some authorities think that these verses (33, 34) refer to the destruction of Judah, but the general context of the chapter convinces many others besides myself that the destruction of Assyria is the theme.

Sidney B. Sperry, Book of Mormon Compendium [salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968], 219-221

This is one of those cases where Nephi’s key “know the geography” is not only helpful, but imperative. Footnote 28a says, “The Assyrian invasion forces introduced in v. 5 progress toward Jerusalem.” To the modern reader, it might just sound like a list of cities. With a map, however, it teaches a powerful lesson. The armies reach all the way to Nob, and “shake their hands” at those on the hill of Jerusalem.

Elder Gerald N. Lund described the enemy that covenant Israel in the kingdom of Judah faced at this time: “The Assyrians are renowned for their brutality in warfare. They tortured their captives. Their armies were seemingly invincible!” Elder Lund suggested that we imagine ourselves as covenant Israel, hiding not in Jerusalem, but on Temple Square in Salt Lake City (geography with which we are more familiar). Then Elder Lund described the volume of territory already conquered by Assyria:

North and South Dakota are gone, Montana is gone, Wyoming is gone, Idaho is gone, and Washington and Oregon are gone, Nevada’s gone, Colorado is gone, all gone to the Assyrians, and northern Utah is gone. And then the Lord says, “Be not afraid of the Assyrians.” Even when you see them reach Clearfield, and Clearfield falls, don’t lose heart. And when Syracuse and Layton and Kaysville and Fruit Heights fall? No, don’t lose heart yet. Do you know where Nob is? Nob is the hill just north and west of Jerusalem that gives a military overlook of the city. And the Assyrians reached Nob. If we were to continue that analogy, it is like the Lord saying, “Yes, even if Woods Cross and bountiful go down, even North Salt Lake, even if they camp on Capitol Hill, don’t you lose faith. Why? Because I have a scourge reserved for them. Here is the most brutal, massive army in the history of the world to that point, camped within eyesight of Jerusalem. (“Making the Scriptures Live: Levels of Effective Scripture Teaching,” audiocassette, Side A).

So here we are, hiding on Temple Square, and an Assyrian army is shouting and shaking their fists at us from Capitol Hill. Yet the Lord says, “Be not afraid of the Assyrians.” What a lesson! Sometimes the Lord waits until the last minute to deliver his promised blessings (see 3 Nephi 1).

John Bytheway, Isaiah for Airheads, p. 134-135

Edited February 28, 2010 by pam