1 Nephi 20: 21

21 And they thirsted not; he led them through the deserts; he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them; he clave the rock also and the waters gushed out.

As Nephi so often reminded Laman and Lemuel of the Exodus to bring them to repentance, so Isaiah does here with the children of Israel. After telling them the blessings of righteousness and calling them to repentance, he now points to history as evidence of how these blessings have manifested themselves. The symbolic significance is pointed out in 2 Nephi 25: 20, where Nephi points out that the source of those miracles is the source or our salvation. This particular miracle has reference to Christ being the Living Water.

• Exodus 17: 6
• Numbers 20: 11
• 2 Nephi 25: 20

1 Nephi 20: 20

20 Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter to the end of the earth; say ye: The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob.

Because all the blessings described in verses 18 and 19 could belong to Israel they should leave their sins of the World (Babylon and Chaldea) joyfully. Then they should witness to the world that the Lord had delivered or redeemed them. And remember that Nephi is quoting this scripture, and is likening it to him and his family. He’s telling Laman and Lemuel that it’s not too late for them to be favored again by the Lord. Repentance and fleeing Babylon is what is needed.

• D&C 133: 5 (5–14)

1 Nephi 20: 19

19 Thy seed also had been as the sand; the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.

This verse continues the list of blessings that could have been. When the children of Israel turned from the Lord they gave up some pretty desirable blessings: peace and righteousness, as described in verse 18. Now they find out that their offspring could have been as numerous as the grains of sand, and they would not have been cut off or destroyed from before the Lord. They could have had it good if they had not rebelled.

• Genesis 22: 17 (15–19)
• Hosea 1: 10

1 Nephi 20: 18

18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments—then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.

Now we get to the meat of the reason Nephi read this chapter to his brothers. After establishing the legitimacy of the prophets, Isaiah (or the Lord) laments to Israel, and for Nephi’s purposes, Laman and Lemuel (see 1 Nephi 19:23). Through this verse Nephi is telling his brothers, “O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments!” If  you had kept the commandments, you would have a steady stream of peace, and your righteousness would be as constant as the waves of the sea. This is what Nephi was trying to get across. He wanted to persuade his brethren to more fully believe in Christ, and they definitely lacked peace in their lives. It’s not only in their best interest if they have peace, but if they become converted, Nephi won’t have to worry so much about them wanting to kill him all the time. Nephi was apparently the official teacher, and this was a time that his brethren would listen to him. So Nephi tries to strengthen and convert when he can.

1 Nephi 20: 17

17 And thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I have sent him, the Lord thy God who teacheth thee to profit, who leadeth thee by the way thou shouldst go, hath done it.

There’s no question here who the sender is; it’s Jesus Christ. Since this verse begins with “and” it makes me think that the last verse, 16, refers to the Lord sending Isaiah. It seems like a continuation of that thought. The Lord reminds Israel here that He teaches them to profit, or prosper; He leads them in the way they should go. In other words, the Lord, who has always shown himself to have Israel’s best interest at heart, has sent Isaiah (and other prophets) to teach them and lead them in the way they should go. And this is so Israel can continue to prosper. Israel should trust and obey these prophets.

1 Nephi 20: 16

16 Come ye near unto me; I have not spoken in secret; from the beginning, from the time that it was declared have I spoken; and the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.

I think this verse must have a dual meaning. On the one hand, it tells Israel to come unto Christ (see Matthew 11: 28), that they can trust Him to be true and trustworthy. He has openly preached His gospel from the beginning, and He is acting on the authority of God the Father, who sent Him.

The other interpretation could be the same as above, except instead of talking about the Lord, Isaiah could be referring to himself. He could be saying that the people could come and listen to him; he has not spoken in secret, and that he was sent by the Lord to say the things he said.

Knowing how Isaiah likes dual meanings, it’s very possible that both interpretations are correct at the same time.

1 Nephi 20: 15

15 Also, saith the Lord; I the Lord, yea, I have spoken; yea, I have called him to declare, I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.

Here is another verse that seems unclear in its pronouns. I think Isaiah is saying that these prophets who have declared the Lord’s will have been called by the Lord, and his way will be made prosperous, or in other words, his declaring the word will be facilitated. Doors will be opened to enable these prophecies to be declared. Notice that his way will be made prosperous, not him personally.

This interpretation feels good to me, but my edition of the Book of Mormon has a cross reference to the word “him” in the phrase, “I have called him to declare.” That cross-reference changes my thoughts on this completely. It refers to Isaiah 45: 1 (1–4), which is talking about Cyrus and how the Lord will make his way prosperous and help him conquer Babylon, which holds the Jews captive. So now I’m not sure what to make of all this. If we go with this interpretation, then the last phrase in verse 14, “his arm shall come upon the Chaldeans,” probably has to do with the Lord strengthening them against their enemies, instead of punishing them, as I have assumed. In that case, this part of the verse is about the Lord not forgetting His covenant with Israel, and not leaving them captive to Babylon.

• Isaiah 45: 1 (1–4)