3 Nephi 22:1-3

Brant Gardner

The statement “And then shall that which is written come to pass” is the transition from one prophecy of Isaiah to another. This time, we have the entirety of Isaiah 54 quoted in this chapter. Orson Pratt structured the chapter and verses so that the correlation would be easily seen. There are no other changes to the verses as they appear in the King James Version of the Bible.

This chapter is a positive view of the future of Israel. It begins with an Israel in a miserable state. She is compared to a barren woman. This was a devastating condition for an ancient Israelite woman, for her and her husband’s line were cut off. They would have no descendants. The reversal is that Israel is promised that she will have many descendants. “More are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife.” Redeemed Israel would spread more than the descendants of the nations who had deemed themselves superior to her.

The increased progeny meant that her “tent” had to be expanded. That is, the house of Israel would increase, not simply in progeny, but in righteous descendants. The reversal would mean that the house of Israel would eventually have power over their enemies. In this case, the enemies are simply labeled Gentiles.

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