Note on the Addition of "Cities" to Isaiah 5:9 in 2 Nephi 15:9

  

2 Nephi 15:9	Isa 5:9
In mine ears saith the Lord of Hosts:  Of a truth many houses shall be desolate,  and great and fair cities without inhabitant.	In mine ears said the LORD of hosts,  Of a truth many houses shall be desolate,  even great and fair, without inhabitant

 

Commenting on Isa 5:9 (=2 Nephi 15:9), one non-LDS scholar noted that “cities” are in view in the passage:

 

There is a time limit for this condition, and it is the fulfillment of the previous visions of the destruction of the land. Cities will be without inhabitant (5.9) and the land will be desolate (1.7; 5.9). (Peter D. Miscall, Isaiah [2d ed.; Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2006], 46, emphasis added)

 

It should be noted that the Book of Mormon personifies cities as feminine, offering (albeit implicit) evidence that the text is familiar with ‎עִיר ‘ir being feminine:

 

But behold, it is for the righteous' sake that it is spared. But behold, the time cometh, saith the Lord, that when ye shall cast out the righteous from among you, then shall ye be ripe for destruction; yea, wo be unto this great city, because of the wickedness and abominations which are in her. Yea, and wo be unto the city of Gideon, for the wickedness and abominations which are in her. (Helaman 13:14-15)

 

And they did also march forward against the city Teancum, and did drive the inhabitants forth out of her, and did take many prisoners both women and children, and did offer them up as sacrifices unto their idol gods. (Moroni 4:14)