2 Nephi 14

2 Nephi 14 (Isaiah Text & Commentary):

(Compare Isaiah 4)

 1 And in that day (the time of war and destruction referred to in chapter 13:25&26), seven women shall take hold of one man, saying: We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel (that is, contrary to the Lord’s order of marriage, we will pay our own way–see Exo. 21:10; D&C 132:58-61); only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach (or the vulnerability or stigma of being abandoned or left alone in tough times).¹

Those of Zion Will Be Cleansed

 2 In that day (the Millennium) shall the Branch of the Lord (the “branch” can have duel meaning. In Jeremiah 23:5 and footnote 5b, this branch refers to Christ. In Isaiah 60:21, 61:3, it refers to righteous people during the Millennium) be beautiful and glorious; the fruit of the earth excellent and comely (or pleasant to look at) to them that are escaped of Israel (that is, to the redeemed of Israel who have escaped the destruction of the wicked).

 3 And it shall come to pass, they (or the righteous remnant) that are left in Zion and remain in Jerusalem shall be called holy (or in other words, they will be sanctified), every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem–

 4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion (or cleansed the earth), and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning (or in essence, when the Lord has carried out the proper sentence and cleansed the earth by fire).

The Lord Will Make His Presence Known

 5 And the Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day (which symbolism represents the presence of the Lord as in Exodus 19:16-18) and the shining of a flaming fire by night (which also represents the presence of God); for upon all (or everyone) the glory of Zion shall be a defense.

 6 And there shall be a tabernacle (a shelter or canopy – symbolic of a Hebrew marriage canopy — representing the remarriage of Christ and his people — see Jeremiah 3:1) for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and a covert (or protection) from storm and from rain (or in other words, Christ will ensure Millennial peace and protection).²

2 Nephi 14:1 (Position of Verse 1):

According to Reynolds and Sjodahl, some scholars regard the first verse of this chapter (2 Nephi 14:1) as belonging to the preceding chapter. It might be well, therefore, to remember that the division of the Bible into chapters and verses is not part of the original arrangement of the sacred volume.

The present division of the Scriptures into chapters and verses . . . are not of divine origin, nor are they of great antiquity. The Vulgate was the first version divided into chapters: a work undertaken by cardinal Hugo in the 13th century, or as Jahn thinks, by Langton, archbishop of Canterbury, 1227. He introduced the division into chapters only. The Hebrew Scriptures were similarly divided by Mordecai Nathan in 1445, and in 1661 Athias added in his printed text the division into verses. The New Testament was divided in the same way by Robert Stephens, who is said to have completed it in the year 1551, during a journey from Paris to Lyons. As might be expected, these divisions are very imperfect, and even when not inaccurate, they tend to break the sense and to obscure the meaning. ³