2 Nephi 18:1 - 18:5

2 Nephi 18:1 Moreover, the word of the Lord said unto me: Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man’s pen, concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

Isaiah is now to record the events of his son Maher-shalal-hash-baz life. The name means: “to speed to spoil” which was a message to the people of the coming destruction of the northern kingdom of Ephraim by the Assyrians. This was a message to Judah’s people where Isaiah lived to show what will happen to them if they do not repent and come to the Lord.

2 Nephi 18:2 And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.

Two witnesses are provided by Isaiah to record the birth of his son and his name. Uriah, the priest and Zechariah, the son of Jeberechian.

2 Nephi 18:3 And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived and bare a son. Then said the Lord to me: Call his name, Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

Isaiah’s wife gave birth to a son whose name was given by the Lord, namely Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

2 Nephi 18:4 For behold, the child shall not have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, before the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.

The child will not be alive long enough to talk before the invasion of Assyria takes place and both Israel and Syria by them.

2 Nephi 18:5 The Lord spake also unto me again, saying:

The Lord speaks to Isaiah to explain why this destruction of Israel.