2 Nephi 24:29

[pam]

Reference Search: 2 Nephi 24:29

29 Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken; for out of the serpent’s root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.

Quotes for Discussion

Palestina

The country of Philistia consisted essentially of five city-states, each governed by its own lord. The nation was home of the Philistines, detested enemies of Judah and the Israelites. This country was at the height of its power at the time of King Saul’s death, but declined during the reign of King David. The Philistines were conquered by the Assyrians in 734 B.C., later they became part of the Persian Empire, and finally the land was annexed to Syria by the Romans.

Hoyt W. Brewster, Jr., Isaiah Plain and Simple [salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1995], 148

Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken. Palestine, or Philistia, which consists of five kingdoms—Gaza, Ekron, Gath, Ashdod, and Ashkalon—is warned not to celebrate Assyria’s (the “serpent’s”) lost power, because the Assyrians will regain their strength (the serpent’s seed will produce a cockatrice, another poisonous serpent) and once again smite the Philistines.

his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. Isaiah again uses imagery to describe how the poisonous snake (Assyria) will produce offspring that will war against the Philistines. The serpent is called fiery probably because of its terrible burning venom; it is called flying probably because of the speed with which it strikes (30:6; Num. 21:6).

Parry, Parry, and Peterson, Understanding Isaiah, p. 154

Sidney Sperry points out the serpent’s root, cockatrice (venomous viper), and fiery flying serpent are “all symbolic of evil to come upon her [Philistia].” (BMC, 245). Each of these represents a more deadly threat than the previous one mentioned. J R. Dummelow identified Sargon (Assyrian king from 722 to 705 B.C.) and Sennacherib (Assyrian king from 705 to 681 B.C.) as the cockatrice and fiery serpent, “each one proving more terrible and formidable to the nations of Western Asia than his predecessor.”

Hoyt W. Brewster, Jr., Isaiah Plain and Simple [salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1995], 149