2 Nephi 23:10-13

Brant Gardner

Isaiah has used poetic parallels in the previous unit, and he continues that trend here. The first is a set of three parallel heavenly bodies, the stars, sun, and moon. Each is known to provide light, but in the terrible day, they will be reversed and be darkened.

The reason is in verse 11. Jehovah will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. The next image is the imagined heights that those who are arrogant and haughty believe themselves to be, which will be revered. Their positions will be reversed, continuing the theme of the reversal of common expectations.

That reversal continues with two images involved with gold. Gold is precious because it is useful, but also relatively scarce. After the destruction, it will be humankind that is scarce, and, therefore, more valuable than the gold which is the current worldly standard of value.

The shaking of the heavens and the moving of earth is a metaphor for the destruction that is coming.

Book of Mormon Minute

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