5 And since they have been led away, these things have been prophesied concerning them, and also concerning all those who shall hereafter be scattered and be confounded, because of the Holy One of Israel; for against him will they harden their hearts; wherefore, they shall be scattered among all nations and shall be hated of all men.
I suppose there have been many reasons over the generations
that people have given for hating the Jews. Some are jealous of their strong
national identity, no matter what country they are citizens of. It gives the
impression that they are more loyal to their blood than they are to their
country. Some people probably take exception to that display of “tribe
identity” over “national identity.” So-called Christians over the years have
used the excuse to persecute the Jews that they crucified Jesus Christ, which
is also true. And for that one the Jews really have no one to blame but
themselves (see Matthew 27: 25). Ultimately the reason comes down to the fact
that they (the Jews) hardened their hearts against the Holy One of Israel. They
broke their covenants, and in their pride have passed that attitude and broken covenant
condition down from generation to generation. This is the physical
manifestation of the prophecies on the scattering and gathering of Israel. The
spiritual meaning could include a comparison to the Plan of Salvation. By
virtue of our being born to this world we know that we entered into an
agreement (covenant) to return to Heavenly Father. In this life we break that
agreement all too frequently through sin. Yet in the end the Atonement will
gather us in to our own “Promised Land.”
- Luke 23: 28–31
- 1 Nephi 19: 14
