This is a longer post, so I’ll start with a summary to help orient you to what follows. In this post, we’ll discuss the prophecy in Isaiah 29 concerning the house of Israel turning their hearts away from Elohim. We’ll look at the prophecy from several perspectives, then consider the expectation of a sealed book and the restoration of Israel to the knowledge of Elohim.

In my last post I wrote that Isaiah 29:10 is quoted in Romans 11, as follows: 

[1] I say then, Has Elohim cast away his people? Elohim forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Avraham, of the tribe of Benyamin.
[2] Elohim has not cast away his people which he foreknew. Know you not what the scripture says of Eliyahu? how he makes intercession to Elohim against Israel, saying,
[3] YHWH, they have killed your prophets, and dug down your altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
[4] But what says the answer of Elohim unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
[5] Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
[6] And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
[7] What then? Israel has not obtained that which he seeks for; but the election has obtained it, and the rest were blinded
[8] (According as it is written, Elohim has given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear) unto this day. [Is. 29:10] (Romans 11:1-8)

If we examine this quotation of Isaiah 29:10 in context, we learn a great deal about the apostasy and restoration of the House of Judah:

[10] For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered

[11] And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:

[12] And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.

[13] Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: (Isaiah 29:11-13 KJV)

This particular passage in Isaiah is related to a halachic question that is considered in the Mishnah, as follows:

R. Elieazar says: they open a vow for a man by reference to the honor of his father or mother.
and the sages prohibit.
Said R. Tzadok: before they open a vow for him by reference to his father or mother let them open his vow by reference to the honor of HaMakom.  
If so there will be no vow.
But the sages concede to R. Elieazar, that in a matter that is between him and his mother or father they loose his vow by reference to his father or mother.” (m.Nedarim 9:1 see also b.Nedarim 64a-64b )

As you can see, the sages of the Talmud agreed that the type of vow that involves “a matter that is between him and his mother or father” is loosed (and therefore should not be kept) if it dishonors one’s mother or one’s father. In Matthew 15, Yeshua agrees with this Talmudic announcement by opposing the teaching of this particular group of Pharisees, calling their teaching “traditions of men” and referencing it to Isaiah 29:13, which reads as follows:

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men

In this example, Yeshua equates the “commandment of men” not with tradition or oral law in general, but specifically with false traditions that run contrary to the written Torah. He refers here to errant rulings from the sages.

Isaiah continues:

Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. (Isaiah 29:14 KJV)

The Talmud ascribes a teaching from this verse taught by Rab (Abba Arikha: 175–247 CE):

…for Rab said: The Torah is destined to be forgotten in Israel, because it is said, Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful: (Dt. 28:59) now, I do not know what this wonder is, but when it is said, Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder [and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish], (Is. 29:14) it follows that this wonder refers to Torah. (b.Shabb. 138b)

Rab taught that this portion of Isaiah refers to an apostasy of Israel from the Torah. The Talmud goes on to comment upon Rab’s teaching:

Our Rabbis taught: When our Masters entered the vineyard at Yabneh, they said, The Torah is destined to be forgotten in Israel, as it is said, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. And it is said, And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. (Amos 8:11f) ‘The word of the Lord’ means halachah,’ ‘the word of the Lord’ means ‘The End’; ‘the word of the Lord’ means prophecy. And what does ‘they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord’ mean? Said they, A woman is destined  to take a loaf of terumah and go about in the synagogues and academies to know whether it is unclean or clean, and none will know whether it is clean or unclean. But that is explicitly stated, All food which may be eaten […shall be unclean]? (Lev. 11:34) Rather to know whether it is a first degree or a second degree [of uncleanness], and none will know. But that too is a Mishnah. For we learnt: If a [dead] creeping thing is found in an oven, the bread within it is a second, because the oven is a first? — They will be in doubt over what R. Adda b. Ahabah asked Raba: Let us regard this oven as though it were filled with uncleanness, and let the bread be a first? He replied, We do not say. Let us regard this oven as though it were filled with uncleanness. For it was taught: You might think that all utensils become unclean in the air space of an earthen vessel: therefore it is stated, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean… all food therein which may be eaten: food and liquids become unclean in the air space of an earthen vessel. It was taught. R. Simeon b. Yohai said: Heaven forfend that the Torah be forgotten in Israel, for it is said, for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed. Then how do I interpret, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it? They will not find a clear halachah or a clear Mishnah in any place. (b.Shabb. 138b)

So the Rabbis understood the apostasy of Isaiah 29 to be the same that is mentioned in Amos 8:11-12 which reads as follows:

[11] Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
[12] And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

And the Rabbis understood this not to refer to the written Torah, but rather to the halacha derived by the sages of Israel from the written Torah. And this is exactly the way Yeshua taught Isaiah 29:13-14 as well!

The Talmud goes on to present a related teaching from Rabbi Jose ben Elisha:

It was taught. R. Jose b. Elisha said: If you see a generation overwhelmed by many troubles, go forth and examine the judges of Israel, for all retribution that comes to the world comes only on account of the Judges of Israel, as it is said, Hear this, I pray you ye heads of the house of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity. They build up Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money; yet will they lean upon the Lord, etc. (Mic. 3:9-11) They are wicked, but they place their confidence in Him Who decreed, and the world came into existence. Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, will bring three punishments upon them answering to the three sins which they cultivate, as it is said, Therefore shall Zion for your sake be ploughed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest. (Mic. 3:12) And the Holy One, blessed be He, will not cause His Divine presence to rest upon Israel until the wicked judges and officers cease out of Israel, for it is said, And I will turn my hand upon thee, and thoroughly purge away thy dross, and will take away all thy tin. And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning, etc. (Isa. 1:25f) (Shabbat 139a)

So Rabbi Jose understood the apostasy of Isaiah 29:13-14 likewise as manifesting itself through apostate rabbinic sages, just as the Talmud and Yeshua both did. This passage refers to an apostasy of the Rabbinic sages from true and correct halacha—which apostasy Yeshua saw taking root in his day. It is also interesting to note that even the Talmud sees an eventual apostasy of Rabbinic Judaism.

Returning to Isaiah, the prophet continues saying:

[15] Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
[16] Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
[17] Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
[18] And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.
[19] The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 29:15-19 KJV)

The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel has in verse 19:

And those that have suffered affliction on account of the Word of YHWH shall increase their joy, and the poor of the sons of men shall rejoice in the Word of the Holy One of Israel. (Targum Jonathan Isaiah 29:19)

The Targum teaches us that this apostasy of the Rabbinic sages causes affliction to those who follow the “Word of YHWH” but that its end will mean a rejoicing for those who follow the “Word.”

Isaiah continues:

[20] For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:
[21] That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought. (Isaiah 29:20-21 KJV)

The fourth Century writer Jerome quoted a lost ancient Nazarene Commentary (the Nazarenes were the original Jewish followers of Yeshua) on Isaiah, which comments on these verses as follows:

What we have understood to have been written about the devil and his angels, the Nazarenes believe to have been said against the Scribes and the Pharisees, (20)  because the deutrotai passed away, who earlier deceived the people with very vicious traditions (And they watch day and night to deceive the simple ones), (21)  who made men sin against the Word of God in order that they should deny that Messiah was the Son of God. (Ancient Nazarene Commentary on Isaiah 29:20-21 as cited by Jerome)

Jerome transliterates the Greek word “deutrotai” into his Latin text. This word comes from the Greek word “deutroseis” which means “that which is repeated” and has exactly the same meaning as the Hebrew word “Mishnah.”  This verifies the teaching we saw earlier in the Talmud that this very apostasy would be fulfilled when “They will not find a clear halacha or a clear Mishnah in any place.” (b.Shabb. 138b)

The Talmud, the Ancient Nazarene Commentary on Isaiah, and Yeshua all testify to us that Isaiah 29 is a prophecy of the apostasy of Rabbinic Judaism.

Now we learned in my last post, that restoration of Judah and the growing together of the two Houses of Israel and the two records, is the restoration from the apostasy spoken of in Isaiah 29:10 as quoted in Romans 11:8. The Stick of Joseph also gives us great insight on this apostasy and restoration as prophesied in Isaiah 29, in the form of a midrash on Isaiah 29. We will look at that below, but first, let’s review Isaiah 29:1-10:

[1] Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices.
[2] Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow: and it shall be unto me as Ariel.
[3] And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee.
[4] And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.
[5] Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.
[6] Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.
[7] And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision.
[8] It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.
[9] Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
[10] For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. (Isaiah 29:1-10 KJV)

The Stick Joseph explains these verses as follows:

But behold, in the last days, or in the days of the Goyim, yes, behold, all the nations of the Goyim, and also the Y’hudim, both those who shall come upon this land and those who shall be upon other lands, yes, even upon all the lands of the earth, behold, they will be drunken with iniquity and all manner of abominations. And when that day shall come, they shall be visited of YHWH Tzva’ot with thunder, and with earthquake, and with a great noise, and with storm and tempest, and with the flame of devouring fire. And all the nations that fight against Tziyon and that distress her shall be as a dream of a night vision. Yes, it shall be unto them even as unto a hungry man which dreams, and behold, he eats, but he awakes and his soul is empty. Or like unto a thirsty man which dreams, and behold, he drinks, but he awakes and behold, he is faint and his soul has appetite. Yes, even so shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against Mount Tziyon. For behold, all you that do iniquity, stay yourselves and wonder, for you shall cry out and cry. Yes, you shall be drunken, but not with wine; you shall stagger, but not with strong drink.For behold, YHWH has poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, for behold, you have closed your eyes, and you have rejected the prophets, and your rulers and the seers has he covered because of your iniquity. (2 Nefi 11:18)

Isaiah continues:

[11] And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:
[12] And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. (Isaiah 29:11-12 KJV)

The Stick of Joseph gives us a great deal of understanding of these verses and this sealed book:

And it shall come to pass that Adonai YHWH shall bring forth unto you the words of a book, and they shall be the words of them which have slumbered. And behold, the book shall be sealed, and in the book shall be a revelation from Elohim, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof. Wherefore, because of the things which are sealed up, the things which are sealed shall not be delivered in the day of the wickedness and abominations of the people; wherefore, the book shall be kept from them. But the book shall be delivered unto a man, and he shall deliver the words of the book, which are the words of those who have slumbered in the dust, and he shall deliver these words unto another. But the words which are sealed he shall not deliver, neither shall he deliver the book, for the book shall be sealed by the power of Elohim, and the revelation which was sealed shall be kept in the book until the own due time of YHWH, that they may come forth; for behold, they reveal all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof. And the day comes that the words of the book which were sealed shall be read upon the housetops, and they shall be read by the power of Mashiach. And all things shall be revealed unto the children of men which ever have been among the children of men, and which ever will be, even unto the end of the earth. Wherefore, at that day when the book shall be delivered unto the man of whom I have spoken, the book shall be hid from the eyes of the world, that the eyes of none shall behold it, except it be that three witnesses shall behold it by the power of Elohim, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered; and they shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein. And there is no other which shall view it, except it be a few according to the will of Elohim, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men. For Adonai YHWH has said that the words of the faithful should speak as if it were from the dead. Wherefore, Adonai YHWH will proceed to bring forth the words of the book; and in the mouth of as many witnesses as seems him good will he confirm his word; and woe be unto him that rejects the word of Elohim. 

But behold, it shall come to pass that Adonai YHWH shall say unto him to whom he shall deliver the book, Take these words which are not sealed and deliver them to another, that he may show them unto the learned, saying, Read this, I ask you. And the learned shall say, Bring here the book and I will read it. And now because of the glory of the world and to get gain will they say this, and not for the glory of Elohim. And the man shall say, I cannot bring the book, for it is sealed. Then shall the learned say, I cannot read it. Wherefore, it shall come to pass that Adonai YHWH will deliver again the book and the words thereof to him that is not learned; and the man that is not learned shall say, I am not learned. Then shall Adonai YHWH say unto him, The learned shall not read them, for they have rejected them, and I am able to do my own work; wherefore, you shall read the words which I shall give unto you. Touch not the things which are sealed, for I will bring them forth in my own due time, for I will show unto the children of men that I am able to do my own work. Wherefore, when you have read the words which I have commanded you, and obtained the witnesses which I have promised unto you, then shall you seal up the book again and hide it up unto me, that I may preserve the words which you have not read, until I shall see fit in my own wisdom to reveal all things unto the children of men. For behold, I am Elohim, and I am an Elohim of miracles, and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and for ever, and I work not among the children of men except it be according to their faith. (2 Nefi 11:19-20)

Isaiah then prophecies the restoration of the House of Judah saying:

[13] Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
[14] Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
[15] Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
[16] Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
[17] Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
[18] And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.
[19] The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
[20] For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:
[21] That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.
[22] Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.
[23] But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.
[24] They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine. (Isaiah 29:13-24 KJV)

And The Stick of Joseph further reveals to us:

And again it shall come to pass that YHWH shall say unto him that shall read the words that shall be delivered him, Forasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the precept of men, therefore, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, yes, a marvelous work and a wonder; for the wisdom of their wise and learned shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent shall be hid. And woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from YHWH, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who sees us? And who knows us? And they also say, Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay. But behold, I will show unto them, says YHWH Tzva’ot, that I know all their works. For shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? Or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? But behold, says YHWH Tzva’ot, I will show unto the children of men that it is not yet a very little while and L’vanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest. And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. And the meek also shall increase, and their joy shall be in YHWH, and the poor among men shall rejoice in HaKodesh of Isra’el. For assuredly as YHWH lives, they shall see that the terrible one is brought to nothing, and the scorner is consumed; and all that watch for iniquity are cut off, and they that make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproves in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of no value. Therefore, thus says YHWH, who redeemed Avraham, concerning the house of Ya’akov: Ya’akov shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now grow pale. But when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify HaKodesh of Ya’akov, and shall fear the Elohim of Isra’el. They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine. (2 Nefi 11:21)

When the Stick of Judah (in this case Isaiah 29) and the stick of Joseph (in this case 2 Nefi 11:18-21) are brought together, we see that the restoration of the House of Judah as prophesied in Isaiah 29:18 “And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness” is, in fact, the coming forth of The Stick of Joseph. 

The apostasy of Rabbinic Judaism spoken of, not only by Yeshua and the ancient Nazarene Commentary on Isaiah, but even by the Talmud, comes to an end with the coming forth of the sealed book of Isaiah 29, The Stick of Joseph. 

It is therefore little wonder, then, that among the first words spoken by YHWH to Yosef ben Yosef we find reference to the current state of apostasy:

I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong, and the personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight, that those professors were all corrupt, that, They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof. (Joseph Smith History Part 2, paragraph 5)

Yosef ben Yosef began the reversal of the apostasy when he rendered the first English-language translation of the Stick of Joseph text. The prophetic fulfillment has begun.