Have you ever wondered why the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon begin with Isaiah 2? The Isaiah chapters are not in exact chronological order according to Bible scholars. There is not universal agreement on this, but a likely scenario is that chapters 1 to 39 center on the divine judgments against the house of Israel, and particularly the kingdom of Judah. The entire Book of Isaiah is structured like Job or Doctrine and Covenants, section 1. Chronologically, D&C 1 was received between Sections 66 and 67. Isaiah chapter 1 would fall between chapters 39 and 40.
Scholars have divided the Book of Isaiah into three sections:
Proto-Isaiah Chapters 1-39
Deutero-Isaiah Chapters 40-55
Trito-Isaiah Chapters 56-66
Chapters 2 through 39 deal primarily with the fall of Judah, the scattering of Israel, and the subsequent destruction of their enemies. Chapters 40 through 66 deal with the gathering and redemption of the entire house of Israel, including the role of the gentiles in the latter days, and the Restoration of the gospel.
Chapter 1 is a divine council verdict, much like D&C chapter 1. The charges against Israel are leveled, and the verdict is guilty as charged. You can read Isaiah 1 and D&C 1 side by side and see similar themes. In D&C 1, the Lord addresses “the unbelieving and rebellious” and warns that “his sword is bathed in heaven, and it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth.” Much like the first section of Isaiah, D&C 1:16 addresses idol worshiping and the fall of Babylon, as a judgment against the entire world.
Isaiah 1:2 addresses the audience: “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.” In a divine council, heaven and earth are called together. Also, whenever heaven and earth appear together, you can be certain that temple themes will follow. The temple is that sacred space where heaven meets earth. Rebellion is a common problem in both chapters—Isaiah 1 and D&C 1. “The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider” (v. 3). This could be an allusion to the birth of Jesus in a manger. While the Bible doesn’t mention any animals present, the manger is a feeding trough for animals and the Bible does mention shepherds, thus, we see animals in every Christmas nativity scene. The allegations are striking. The animals are more spiritually perceptive than sickened Israel.
Verses 5 and 6 reveal that washing and anointing ordinances involving various parts of the body have become ineffective due to the violation of covenants. “The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores.”
The Hebrew word for “sole of the foot” is kaph, meaning “sole of the foot, palm of the hand, bowl of a dish, or spoon.” It is symbolic of power and is associated with covenant making. We will encounter more violations of covenants in this chapter.
They have violated the law of sacrifice. Jehovah commanded the burnt offering (`olah) back in Leviticus 1, but now He calls it an “abomination.” The Hebrew word `olah means “to ascend” and represents the smoke of the sacrifice ascending to heaven, symbolizing our willingness to surrender our will to God. The Lord asks them why they even bother with the ordinances. Can you imagine in our day if the Lord were to ask why we even bother with the sacrament? It has become meaningless to them. The Lord will continue this message in chapter 5: “And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands.”
Then the Hallel Gesture (a gesture of approach to deity) is revealed in its context. The Hallel Gesture is the “spreading forth of hands toward heaven” and is described in the dedication of Solomon’s Temple in 1 Kings 8:22,38,54. It’s a symbolic prayer gesture, but it also leaves the chest cavity exposed, and this, with the hands raised up toward heaven, is supposed to reveal a pure heart and clean hands (Psalm 24:4). But instead, this is what the Lord sees as these ancient Israelites make this gesture:
“And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.” (Isaiah 1:15)
Ouch!!
The sentence is delivered, and yes, Israel will see severe punishment at the hands of the Assyrians, Babylonians, Romans, and others, but there is an awesome Advocate and Defense Attorney in this courtroom, and He will redeem Israel! In divine council language, the Lord said, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18).
Scarlet was a colorfast dye. It is impossible to get the stain out without the atonement of Jesus Christ. The dye was extracted from a worm known as coccus ilicis, or “scarlet worm.” The symbolism of this worm is so profound! Here is the lifecycle of the scarlet worm. The parallels with our Savior’s atonement are obvious:
The mother climbs up a piece of wood, mainly a particular type of tree, in order to lay her eggs. She then attaches herself to the tree building a hard red shell around her. Inside this crimson shell she lays her eggs and keeps them under her body to protect them. The baby grubs are hatched, and they feed on the mother’s body for 3 days. During this time a bright crimson red fluid oozes from the mother. This red fluid stains the wood that she is attached to and the baby grubs are covered being permanently stained with it. The young are ready to leave the shell after 3 days. The mother, being still attached to the shell and to the tree, dies so that she can birth a family. On day 4 the mother’s tail pulls up to her head making a heart-like shape and she is no longer red – she has turned into a snow-white wax. This snow-white body looks like a little piece of wool on the side of the tree. It begins to flake off and falls to the ground like snow. (https://www.hebraic-heritage.org/post/the-scarlet-worm)
Isaiah is loaded with beautiful visual imagery like this. Jesus loved to quote from this book. I hope you enjoy its poetic style as much as I do. But above all, Isaiah is hopeful. After all the prophecies of destruction there is redemption, mercy, and lovingkindness.