Study of II Nephi
Chapter 2
By Chris Edson
© January 2008
Having recently begun a study of the Book of Mormon with a very dear friend who is diligently seeking the truth, and who has never before been exposed to these scriptures, I have been approaching this study with much prayer. As the time came for us to study II Nephi Chapter 2, I realized that this was a pivotal piece of many puzzles and I asked some of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to help me prepare for this lesson. I asked they read this with ‘fresh eyes’, putting aside the interpretations they have been told in the past and not reading the notes and scribblings already in the margins of their books. I did the same for myself. I was truly amazed at the things we found. Each of us agreed on many parts, but each person also found at least one new little ‘gem’ that no other found.
What follows is the result of this study and preparation. May it help us to all grow in deeper understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I have copied out the text of the chapter and the study comments are in red. They reflect my own interpretation and understanding at this point in time, unless otherwise noted. Scripture is much like an onion, especially this type of scripture which involves prophecy and promises that have both been fulfilled and are yet to be fulfilled. As we peel back the layers, we continue to find more, sweeter meat contained within. I have no doubt that if I study this again in two months time, I will see things I do not see now. That is why I emphasize it is my understanding at this time. When I get to a point where I say “I understand and know it all”, then I have gotten to a point where my heart is hard and I, in truth, understand nothing. We must always grow in our relationship with Christ, who is the Word. If we are coasting, we can only go downhill.
[2 Ne 2:1] And now I speak unto you, Joseph, my last born.
[2 Ne 2:2] Thou wast born in the wilderness of mine afflictions; yea, in the days of my greatest sorrow did thy mother bear thee. (‘Wilderness of mine afflictions’ is an interesting terminology here. While they were in the physical wilderness, could this have a deep more spiritual meaning as well? Nephi speaks of his afflictions when he grieves at his brother’s disbelief earlier in the scriptures. I believe this is a double-layered message here.)
[2 Ne 2:3] And may the Lord consecrate also unto thee this land, which is a most precious land, for thine inheritance and the inheritance of thy seed with thy brethren, for thy security for ever, if it so be that ye shall keep the commandments of the Holy One of Israel.
[2 Ne 2:4] And now, Joseph, my last born, whom I have brought out of the wilderness of mine afflictions, may the Lord bless thee for ever, for thy seed shall not utterly be destroyed. (One sister pointed out that at some points ‘seed’ is used and others ‘fruit’. Is there a reason to use one versus the other? It is the seed that we plant and the fruit that is the end result of that seed. Could ‘seed’ be the physical and ‘fruit’ be the spiritual? Another thought is that fruit stays in place until it is moved, whereas seed can be scattered. I will make ‘seed’ green and ‘fruit’ blue to differentiate them throughout the rest of the text.)
[2 Ne 2:5] For behold, thou art the fruit of my loins; and I am a descendant of Joseph, who was carried captive into Egypt.
[2 Ne 2:6] And great were the covenants of the Lord, which he made unto Joseph; wherefore, Joseph truly saw our day. (Lehi’s day)
[2 Ne 2:7] And he obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of his loins, the Lord God would raise up a righteous branch unto the house of Israel;
[2 Ne 2:8] Not the Messiah, but a branch which was to be broken off; nevertheless, to be remembered in the covenants of the Lord, (Lehi’s tribe is the branch--[Gen 49:22] Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall)
[2 Ne 2:9] That the Messiah should be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the spirit of power, unto the bringing of them out of darkness unto light; yea, out of hidden darkness and out of captivity unto freedom. (Many suggestions and thoughts here. This could possibly mean Christ’s visitation to the America’s after his crucifixion, as before that time the Nephites had been in a type of captivity by the Lamanites. This could also speak of a future event—Christ’s glory coming. In addition, I believe this could be a symbolic message as well—insomuch as Christ is made manifest to those who believe on Him through His Word. When we leave our sins behind, we are being freed from captivity and darkness we did not know was there by the light of Christ which shines into our lives.)
[2 Ne 2:10] For Joseph truly testified, saying: A seer shall the Lord my God raise up, who shall be a choice seer unto the fruit of my loins. (Joseph of Egypt’s loins)
[2 Ne 2:11] Yea, Joseph truly said, Thus saith the Lord unto me: A choice seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins. (This could possibly be Joseph Smith because it does not say that this high esteem must happen during his lifetime. This would mean that JS is of the seed of Joseph via Ephraim, which some people do contend, but it is not provable. Another suggestion was made that this could refer to Samuel the Lamanite as he prophesied of Christ’s birth and was the fruit of Joseph’s loins, as well.)
[2 Ne 2:12] And unto him will I give commandment, that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth unto them, even to the bringing of them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers.
[2 Ne 2:13] And I will give unto him a commandment, that he shall do none other work save the work which I shall command him. (What is this work? If this is Joseph Smith, then the translation of the BOM fits. He was commanded to do that work.)
[2 Ne 2:14] And I will make him great in mine eyes: for he shall do my work.
[2 Ne 2:15] And he shall be great like unto Moses, whom I have said I would raise up unto you, to deliver my people, O house of Israel.
[2 Ne 2:16] And Moses will I raise up, to deliver thy people out of the land of Egypt.
[2 Ne 2:17] But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins;
[2 Ne 2:18] And not to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them. (The BOM has gone forth, but the convincing has not happened on a large scale.)
[2 Ne 2:19] Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write;
[2 Ne 2:20] And that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together,
[2 Ne 2:21] Unto the confounding of false doctrines, and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, (Does this mean they will not be at peace? As I read this, I saw a deeper spiritual meaning here than the physical one I have seen in the past. False doctrines and contentions abound among even those who call themselves followers of Christ. But when those people truly embrace the fullness of the gospel, Christ’s peace takes over.)
[2 Ne 2:22] And bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days;
[2 Ne 2:23] And also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.
[2 Ne 2:24] And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in that day when my work shall commence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.
[2 Ne 2:25] And thus prophesied Joseph, saying: Behold, that seer will the Lord bless;
[2 Ne 2:26] And they that seek to destroy him, shall be confounded: (The argument could be made that since JS was murdered, this cannot be him. However, killing a man does not necessarily destroy him and it certainly did not destroy his work.)
[2 Ne 2:27] For this promise, of which I have obtained of the Lord, of the fruit of thy loins, shall be fulfilled.
[2 Ne 2:28] Behold, I am sure of the fulfilling of this promise.
[2 Ne 2:29] And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father. (Joseph is talking so that means Joseph is the name here. When you read this several times, it comes across that it could also be the name Lehi. However if you go to the IV and read the blessing that Joseph of Egypt gives his sons, it is clear and even states the name ‘Joseph’. See Gen. 50:24-38 Unfortunately, this is not in the KJV.)
[2 Ne 2:30] And he shall be like unto me; for the thing which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation;
[2 Ne 2:31] Yea, thus prophesied Joseph, I am sure of this thing, even as I am sure of the promise of Moses: for the Lord hath said unto me, I will preserve thy seed for ever.
[2 Ne 2:32] And the Lord hath said, I will raise up a Moses; and I will give power unto him in a rod;
[2 Ne 2:33] And I will give judgment unto him in writing.
[2 Ne 2:34] Yet I will not loose his tongue, that he shall speak much: for I will not make him mighty in speaking.
[2 Ne 2:35] But I will write unto him my law, by the finger of mine own hand; and I will make a spokesman for him.
[2 Ne 2:36] And the Lord said unto me also, I will raise up unto the fruit of thy loins: and I will make for him a spokesman.
[2 Ne 2:37] And I, behold, I will give unto him, that he shall write the writing of the fruit of thy loins, unto the fruit of thy loins; and the spokesman of thy loins shall declare it. (An interesting point here was made by my friend—it does not say here that the spokesman has to be here at the same TIME as the seer. This is something I had never before considered. She was seeing this with truly ‘fresh eyes’ though, having never read it before.)
[2 Ne 2:38] And the words which he shall write, shall be the words which are expedient in my wisdom should go forth unto the fruit of thy loins.
[2 Ne 2:39] And it shall be as if the fruit of thy loins had cried unto them from the dust; for I know their faith.
[2 Ne 2:40] And they shall cry from the dust; yea, even repentance unto their brethren, even after many generations have gone by them.
[2 Ne 2:41] And it shall come to pass that their cry shall go, even according to the simpleness of their words. (I do think this is speaking of the BOM.)
[2 Ne 2:42] Because of their faith, their words shall proceed forth out of my mouth unto their brethren, who are the fruit of thy loins;
[2 Ne 2:43] And the weakness of their words will I make strong in their faith, unto the remembering of my covenant which I made unto thy fathers.
[2 Ne 2:44] And now, behold, my son Joseph, after this manner did my father of old prophesy.
[2 Ne 2:45] Wherefore, because of this covenant thou art blessed: for thy seed shall not be destroyed, for they shall hearken unto the words of the book. (BOM)
[2 Ne 2:46] And there shall raise up one mighty among them, who shall do much good, both in word and in deed, being an instrument in the hands of God, with exceeding faith. (This is what many people point to regarding the future Lamanite prophet. Notice here that it says he will be raised up mighty among them. It does not say he will be ONE of them. Just a thought. I would also suggest that if this is read in comparison to III Nephi Chapter 9, Christ very specifically says that HE is the one referred to.)
[2 Ne 2:47] To work mighty wonders, and do that thing which is great in the sight of God, unto the bringing to pass much restoration unto the house of Israel, and unto the seed of thy brethren.
[2 Ne 2:48] And now, blessed art thou, Joseph.
[2 Ne 2:49] Behold, thou are little; wherefore, hearken unto the words of thy brother Nephi, and it shall be done unto thee, even according to the words which I have spoken.
[2 Ne 2:50] Remember the words of thy dying father. Amen.
I wish to express my gratitude to those who assisted me in my study of this chapter and to my friend who has inspired me to study with her as she discovers the precious truths within the Book of Mormon. After this study, I have concluded that most of what I can do is only speculate, rather than conclude. I do believe that much of this has been fulfilled, but not all. I also believe it is very possible that some which has been fulfilled will be fulfilled again.
[Eccl 1:9] The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun.
What I do sincerely believe is that this is layered scripture and has both a temporal meaning and a spiritual one. What I also believe is that while it is not important for us to know the exact details of what lays ahead, it is vital for us to know what the scriptures say so that when it does transpire, we will recognize it.