Book of Mormon Commentary - 1 Nephi 3
by Don R. Hender
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Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
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Commentary & Explanation
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Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
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CHAPTER 3
Lehi's sons return to Jerusalem to obtain the plates of brass—Laban
refuses to give them up—Nephi exhorts and encourages his
brethren—Laban steals their property and attempts to slay
them—Laman and Lemuel smite Nephi and are reproved by an angel.
[Between 600 and 592 B.C.]
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Lehi's sons return to Jerusalem as Nephi (12) now bar-mitzvah and consider a count responsiable 'man' in
Israel.—Laban refuses to give the plates of brass to Laman—Nephi exhorts his brethern—Laban,
confident in his Captain of the Sarim position, steals Lehi's protery from the sons of Lehi and seeks their
lives as well.—Laman and Lemuel smite Nephi with a rod and are visited by a reproving angel.
[About 600-598 B.C. (Book of Mormon time)]
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1 AND it came to pass that I, Nephi,
returned from aspeaking with the
Lorda, to the tent of my father.
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1a I, Nephi, returned from speaking with
the Lord This was not the first time that Nephi had spoken with
or been visited by the Lord. In this abridged record, one may tend to
conclude that it was just a day or so since Nephi was first visited by the
Lord as recorded in verse 16 of the previous chapter. But time had passed
since then. Daily living had continued on. Nephi had spoken to and
attempted to persuade his brothers to adhere to the words of God upon
occasions since that first 'visit' by the Lord. And Laman and Lemuel were
not responsive, though Sam was. Nephi's later prayer (verse 18 of 1 Nep 2)
to the Lord concerning Laman and Lemuel's welfare came at a time after Nephi's
first visit from the Lord. How many days, prayers and events separated that ocasion and
time and the second told visit and blessings of the Lord can only be supposed.
Nephi would be of the age of a 'man' in Israel when he obtained the plates
from Laban and he was 'exceedingly young' likely not even age twelve when
the Lord first visited him. Thus one must conclude that a duration of time
and events had passed by prior to Lehi's request for his son to return to
obtain the plates of brass did occur.
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1a
1 Ne. 2:16;
1 Ne. 2:18 (16-24)
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2 And it came to pass that he spake unto me, saying: Behold I have
adreamed a dream, in the which the Lord hath commanded me
that thou and thy brethren shall breturn to Jerusalem.
3 For behold, Laban hath the record of the Jews and also a
agenealogy of my forefathers, and they are
bengraven upon plates of brass.
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2a
TG
Dream
b
1 Ne. 2:4 (1-5);
1 Ne. 7:3
3a
1 Ne. 3:12;
1 Ne. 5:14
b
Jer. 17:1;
1 Ne. 3:24 (12, 19-24)
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Why Lehi 'Forgot' the Plates of Brass
It is often considered why Lehi did not obtain the plates of brass
before he left Jerusalem the first time if they were so important to Lehi's
group. Often the simple answer is that Lehi was in flight for his life and he
was more concerned with slipping out of Jerusalem unnoticed and preserving his
own life rather than with obtaining a record engraved upon plates of brass.
Well enough might be true, but is there not more? Perhpas a consideration of
just who Laban was would further answer Lehi's seeming omission. Laban was a
commander or captain of fifty who wore his postional armor to meetings of the
elders of the church. Laban held the 'record of Joseph' the plates of brass
which would likely be referenced by the elders of the church upon occation.
The elders of the church who Laban so associated with were likely the
'sanhedrin' of Lehi's day, that group of sevety princes and rules upon whom
fell the administration of the Law of Moses among the people. Their authority
would not be unlike that of the Sanhedrin of Jesus own day and time. And it
is this group of elders or sarim of the day who would those among the 'Jews'
who would have authority and purpose in seeking Lehi's life. Laban in short
was the 'chief captain of the Sanhedrin Police' of Lehi's day. It would have
been absolutely stupid for Lehi to go to Laban who had been commissioned by
the 'elders of the church' to secure Lehi for trial before them unto death.
And therein what would Lehi be charged with? As was Jesus and many of the
prophet of God so charged, pursecuted and killed by the hand of the 'Jewish
Elders' for teaching of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, so was Lehi so guilty
of so proclaiming an why his message beyond the destruction of Jeursalem was
so reject and the basis of conviction by the sanherin of Lehi's day. Going to
Laban for the plated of brass would have been Lehi turning himself into the
very powers which sought his life. This is why Laban so easily sought the
lives of Lehi's sons and stool all of Lehi's vast properties of wealth without
fear of reprisal. Laban knew that Lehi's life was as a wanted man and his
family were fugitives from such declaration by the 'Jews' in authority. Laban
himself was their chief captain of the fifty who enforeced the Law of Moses.
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4 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me that thou and thy brothers
should go unto the house of Laban, and seek the records, and bring them down
hither into the wilderness.
5 And now, behold thy brothers murmur, saying it is a hard
thing which I have required of
thema; but behold I have not
required it of them, but it is a commandment of the
Lordb.
6 Therefore go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord,
because thou hast anot bmurmured.
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5a it is a hard thing which I have
required of them This was Laman's and Lemuel's and perhaps even
Sam's response to Lehi's direction that his sons return to obtain the
plates of brass. Laman and Lemuel would later almost jump at the chance
to return to and live in Jerusalem so it was not just returning to
Jerusalem which they feared. What was it about Laban that made it a 'hard'
matter for them to go and appear before him? Who was Laban and just what
interrelationship to the family of Lehi did Laban have which would make so
that the sons of Lehi would not want to go and appear before him? Could it
have anything to do with the fact that the 'Jews' had sought the life of
Lehi? Just who would have been that select set of Jews who would have power
to seek another's life, especially one such as Lehi, a wealthy man of Jewish
society?
5b I have not required it of them, but it
is a commandment of the Lord This is the last thing that Lehi
would want to do, send his then only four sons back to Jerusalem to face
Laban, the chief of police of the Sanhedrin who had been commissioned to
secure Lehi
for trial and death before the elder/princes/rules of the church, the very
judges of the Law of Moses who were seeking after Lehi's life. This is a
commandment of Lehi not unlike that which Abraham faced when the Lord told
him to sacrifice his son Isaac. But in obedience and faith Lehi conveyed the
commandment of the Lord to his sons and it is likely in part based upon
Nephi's response that Lehi was somewhat assured that the Lord would protect
his sons in accomplishing this 'hard thing' to do. Certainly later when
Sariah complains against Lehi that her sons have been killed, she has in mind
this danger which they did face in traveling in the wilderness back to
Jerusalem and of all people to have them face, Laban, the captain of fifty
which would have been commisioned to secure Lehi to be pursecuted by the
judgment of the 'Jews' as was Chirst in his time.
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6a
TG
Sustaining Church Leaders
b
TG
Murmuring
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7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I
awill go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded,
for I know that the Lord giveth no bcommandments unto the
children of men, save he shall cprepare a way for them that
they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
8 And it came to pass that when my father had heard these words he was exceedingly glad, for he knew that I had been blessed of
the Lord.
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7a
1 Sam. 9:32;
1 Kings 17:15 (11-15);
TG
Faith;
TG
Loyalty;
TG
Obedience
b
TG
Commandments of God
c
Gen. 18:14;
Philip. 4:13;
1 Ne. 17:3, 50;
D&C 5:34
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9 And I, Nephi, and my brethren took our journey in the wilderness,
with our tents, to go up to the land of
Jerusalema.
10 And it came to pass that when we had gone up to the land of Jerusalem, I and my brethren did consult one with another.
11 And we acast lots—who of us should go in
unto the house of Laban. And it came to pass that the lot fell upon Laman;
and Laman went in unto the house of Laban, and he talked with him as he sat
in his house.
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9a to up to the land of
Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city on a hill. It is surrounded on
three sides by valleys. When one travels the common commercial route to the
King's Highway, they travel the plains and down to Jericho and the river
Jordon which is at the point of crossing below sea level. In both a physical
sense and a spiritual sense, is that Jerusalem is the 'Mountain of the Lord's
House', it would always be stated that those who travel to go there are going
up to Jerusalem. They are going up to the house of the Lord. It is a city
on a hill. This was irrespective of from what height and level the traveler
may have began, for inrespect to the roads as they neared Jerusalem, the would
going up to that land and that city on that hill.
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11a
Neh. 10:34;
Acts 1:26
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First Attempt to Obtain the Plates of Brass
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12 And he desired of Laban the records which were engraven upon the
plates of brass, which contained the agenealogy of my
father.
13 And behold, it came to pass that Laban was angry, and thrust him out from his presence; and he would not that he should have
the records. Wherefore, he said unto him: Behold thou art a robber,
and I will slay theea.
14 But Laman fled out of his presence, and told the things which Laban had done, unto us. And we began to be exceedingly
sorrowful, and my brethren were about to return unto my father in the wilderness.
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13a Behold thou art a robber, and I will
slay thee Now the Law of Moses provided that a robber caught in
the act could be killed by the victim and there would be no reprisal
against he who killed for it was in the manner of protecting one's property.
Thus the Law did allow it as long as one could count on the law to view it
as a matter of robbery. Yet, this is a bold accusation to make against
another to call them a 'robber' and proceed to slay them. What makes Laban
so self assured that he can make such charges and threats against the eldest
son of Lehi and be assured that he will be supported by the law in it? Lehi
was of one of the 'high' houses of Jerusalem, a wealthy and noble man. What
could motivate Laban to so discourtiously charge and threaten the eldest son
of a wealthy and rich nobleman with robbery and expect to be supported by
the ruling 70 of the Sarim? Certainly it would be one man's word against
another as the meeting was merely between Laban and Laman, but Laman had
clearly stated that he was there to obtain the genealogy of his father and so
did represent his father Lehi before Laban. This is a gross disrespect and a
total lack of fear of reprisal by Laban in respect to Lehi's standing in the
community. What did Laban know and just who was Laban that gave him such
courage to insult and threaten the house of Lehi in such a manner?
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12a
1 Ne. 3:3;
1 Ne. 5:14;
Jarom 1:1
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15 But behold I said unto them that: aAs the Lord
liveth, and as we live, we will not go down unto our father in the wilderness
until we have baccomplished the thing which the Lord hath
commanded us.
16 Wherefore, let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the
Lord; therefore let us go down to the land of our father's
ainheritancea, for
behold he left gold and silver, and all manner of
richesb. And all this he
hath done because of the bcommandments of the Lord.
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16a let us go down to the land of our
father's inheritance From the city on the hill, Jerusalem, were
Laban dwelt within the city walls, the land of Lehi's inheritance is here
understandably qualified as being 'down' from that city on a hill. Here it
must be understood the relationship between living within the confines of
the 'city wall', that is the 'city proper' and living in the land round about
Jerusalem which would called by that same name Jerusalem as being the 'land
of Jerusalem'. Earlier the Book of Mormon clearly stated that 'Lehi had dwelt
at Jerusalem in all his days' (1 Nephi 1:4). This did not particularly mean
that Lehi had a house within the walls of the city of Jerusalem, but that he
had lived at the 'land of Jerusalem' and did pertain unto that city in all
his days. It seems quite apparent that Lehi's land of inheritance was without
the city walls and that one would travel 'down' from the city on a hill
proper to a part of that surrounding land which was also attributed to
Jerusalem as being a part of the land of Jerusalem. Like Boaz, who held lands
and fields and harvested and reaped from his lands about Bethlehem, so did
Lehi possess land of inheritance associated with Jerusalem, but not inside
the crowded streets of the city, but in the country side of Jerusalem. All
such 'walled cities' had this particular relationship with the supporting
aggrecultural lands round about the walled city outside of the walls and
during times of seige the people 'of that city' would retreat to and be
gathered into the city proper within its protective walls. The Book of Mormon
presents this relationship also as it speaks of a city and the 'land of the
city' round about a city in just such terms. That land of a city would be
those lands outside the city gates which do associate themselves with being
citizens of that city through their aggrecultural lands are understandably
outside the city walls.
16a he left gold and silver, and all
manner of riches When one considers that Lehi left his land of
inheritance and all of this property of exceedingly great wealth, one is left
to ask, 'How is it that Nephi and the sons of Lehi could be assured that
their father's great wealth would still be in tact even after they had
departed the land and been absent there from for a time. Certainly Lehi would
have known others and had associates which would have seen after the property
of Lehi. It may be as simple as the fact that the family of Ishmael, to whom
Lehi's two daughters had married into, could have been one such associated
family left to be caretaker of Lehi's lands and properties. Or perhaps Lehi
had left trusted servants in charge of his affairs and lands.
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15a
TG
Oath;
TG
Promise
b
TG
Commitment;
TG
Dedication
16a
1 Ne. 2:4
b
1 Ne. 2:2;
1 Ne. 4:34
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17 For he knew that Jerusalem must be adestroyed,
because of the wickedness of the people.
18 For behold, they have arejected the words of the
prophets. Wherefore, if my father should dwell in the land after he hath been
bcommanded to flee out of the land, behold, he would also
perish. Wherefore, it must needs be that he flee out of the land.
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17a
2 Chr. 36:20 (16-20);
Jer. 39:9 (1-9);
1 Ne. 1:13
18a
Jer. 26:23 (21-24);
TG
Prophets, Rejection of
b
1 Ne. 5:21;
1 Ne. 7:2;
1 Ne. 16:8
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19 And behold, it is wisdom in God that we should obtain these
arecords, that we may preserve unto our children the language
of our fathersa;
20 And also that we may apreserve unto them the
words which have been spoken by the mouth of all the holy
bprophets, which have been delivered unto them by the
Spirit and power of God, since the world began, even down unto this present
time.
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19a it is wisdom in God that we should
obtain these records, that we may preserve unto our children the language of
our fathers Now the language of the plates of brass was the
language of the Egyptians (Mosiah 1:4) and thus we may conclude that the
language which was to be preserved among the Nephites was that of Egypt, that
form of Egyptian as written upon and maintained upon the plates of brass
even from the days which Israel was in Egypt. And that this is the language
of 'our fathers' makes even a tighter connection between the direct lines
from Joseph of Egypt down through and to Lehi's family as well as the family
of Ishmael. Certainly one must consider that Lehi's house was one such as
was preserved in that higher civilization, though not in religion, of the
high society and high learning of the Egyptians and the Egyptian house of
Joseph of Egypt and his sons which did most likely live in the palaces of
Egypt. And as will be noted in later chapters and verses, this marks the
plates of brass as the record of Joseph commanded of the Lord to Joseph
(see JST Genesis 50), for it was only because Laban's house was descended
from Joseph that they did so keep the plates of brass record. And thus the
labeling of the plates of brass is somewhat of a misnomer, that though the
kingdom of Israel was destroyed and only the kingdom of Judah remained at
the time of Lehi, still it was the record of Joseph which was being kept in
the land of the remaining kingdom of Judah or of the Jews.
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19a
Omni 1:17;
Mosiah 1:3 (2-6);
TG
Record Keeping
20a
TG
Scriptures, Preservation of
b
Zech. 7:12;
Matt. 11:13;
Mosiah 15:13
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21 And it came to pass that after this manner of language did I
apersuade my brethren, that they might be faithful in
keeping the commandments of God.
22 And it came to pass that we went down to the land of our
inheritance, and we did gather together our agold, and our
silver, and our precious things.
23 And after we had gathered these things together, we went up again unto the house of Laban.
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21a
TG
Family, Love within;
TG
Persuade
22a
1 Ne. 2:4
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Second Attempt to Obtain the Plates of Brass
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While the family of Lehi and Nephi may have remained relatively niave
concerning all who were part of the 'secret' comspiracy against Lehi, at
least to the extent of direct proof of accusation against Laban, it is at
this second encounter with the sons of Lehi that it becomes quite obvious
that Laban had no fear of operating outside of and without any regard to
any regular 'secular' or 'religious' law in respect to the family of Lehi
likely due to Captain Laban's privileged knowledge of the 'Sarim's (Sanhedrin's) Conspiracy'
agianst Lehi and his family and the power the Sarim (princes) of the Church
held over King Zedekiah (See Jeremiah 38:4-5)*.
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Was Laban the Sarim's Captain of the Sanhedrin?
(See Matthew 26:47; Mark 14:43; Luke 22:52; John 18:12)
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24 And it came to pass that we went in unto Laban, and desired him
that he would give unto us the records which were engraven upon the
aplates of brass, for which we would give unto him our
gold, and our silver, and all our precious things.
25 And it came to pass that when Laban saw our property, and that it
was exceedingly great, he did alust after it, insomuch that
he thrust us out, and sent his servants to slay us, that he might obtain
our propertya.
26 And ait came to pass that we did flee before the
servants of Laban, and we were obliged to leave behind our property, and it
fell into the hands of Laban.
27 And it came to pass that we fled into the wilderness, and the
servants of Laban did not overtake us, and we ahid
ourselves in the cavity of a rock.
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25a sent his servants to slay us, that he might
obtain our property When Laman went to request the plates of brass from Laban,
Laban accused him of being a theif and sought to slay Laman. It is a law that if one does
catch one in stealing then the theif may be killed within the first 24 hours without any
question. Now what Laban has accused Laman of, Laban was quilty of. Under the likely excuse
of Lehi's sons being the 'thives' and the likely backing of being the 'chief captain' of the
Sanhedrin who had sought Lehi's life; Laban was confident enough to seek the life of Lehi's
four sons likely under the protection of the Hebrew law of robbery from one's home residence.
And in a fate of self judgment, Laban would steal their property, and actually become the guilty
thief himself. Thus ironically Laban became the theif and that evening Nephi would return to the
city under the direction of the angel to obtain the brass plates and he would find Laban drunk in
the streets. And the spirit of God would pass judgment of this guilty man and would direct
Nephi to slay Laban. It was Laban's falsely sought sanctioned part of the 'Hebrew Law' and
certainly Laban was the actual guilty theif and attempted murderer as well, for as he had false
of judged Laman before and the four sons of Lehi now, so would the angel of the Lord now judge
Laban and condemn him to death. God was Laban's judge. It also so happens that Isaiah also alludes
to such a fate of a 'captain of fifty' of the Jews when Jerusalem was to be destroyed and taken
away captive (Isa. 3:3 (1-3)). And certainly the 'Jews of the Sarim' and its 'captian of fifty'
were guilty complicitely of attempted murder of God's prophet and the prophets four living sons.
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24a
1 Ne. 3:3;
1 Ne. 4:24, 38
25a
TG
Covetousness
26a
1 Ne. 4:11
27a
Josh. 10:16-17;
1 Sam. 13:6;
Jer. 36:26;
Ether 13:13, 22
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28 And it came to pass that Laman was angry with me, and also with my
father; and also was Lemuel, for he hearkened unto the words of Laman.
Wherefore Laman and Lemuel did speak many ahard words unto
us, their younger brothers, and they did smite us even with a rod.
29 And it came to pass as they smote us with a rod, behold, an
aangel of the Lord came and stood before them, and he spake
unto them, saying: Why do ye smite your younger brother with a rod? Know ye
not that the Lord hath chosen him to be a bruler over you,
and this because of your iniquities? Behold ye shall go up to Jerusalem
again, and the Lord will cdeliver Laban into your hands.
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From being 'extremely young' and beaten by
his elder brothers, having turned about 13 and so
recognized as 'a man in Israel', Nephi performs
'a right of passage,' not just to obtain the plates from
Laban; but he would righteously kill the wicked
'Captain of Fifty' of the Sarim Council.
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28a
1 Ne. 17:18
29a
1 Ne. 4:3;
1 Ne. 7:10;
TG
Angels
b
Gen. 41:43 (41-43);
1 Ne. 2:22
c
2 Kings 3:18;
3 Ne. 3:21
Lord Deliver Laban into
the Hands of Nephi
The Lord has the power to deliver the enemy of the righteous into their hands.
And in the case of Laban, it was for the intent that Laban be slain by the
hand of Nephi. The angel did not tell Nephi that purpose before he went up
to Jerusalem that evening, but when Nephi got there, the youth, most likely of
the 'age to be counted as a man in Israel', would be given just such a manly
commandment by the voice of the Lord. Nephi's size and stature was already that
of a large man (1 Nephi 4:31), and certainly now even his assigned task would be
that of a man, acting in the name of God to pass sentence upon wicked Laban.
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30 And after the aangel had spoken unto us, he
departed.
31 And after the angel had departed, Laman and Lemuel again began to
amurmur, saying: How is it possible that the Lord will
deliver Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can
command fiftya, yea, even he can
slay fifty; then why not us?
LABAN & NEPHI
The Book of Mormon hasn't prepared us to understand the physical
relationship between Laban and Nephi. Nephi was only about age 13, but
he was large in stature, at least the full size of Laban, who likely the
much older senior to Nephi in age. Image a six foot plus 13 year old
Nephi as big in size of a 40 year old Laban, the Captain of Fifty of
the princely rulers and 'Elders of Israel' of the seventy of Jerusalem.
Nephi was of the height and size of the fearful man Laban, and in the
eyes of the Lord, he was both more spiritually and even physically
a full man than was Laban himself, who was but a wicked drunkard
passed out in the streets of Jerusalem that evening after having met
with and celabrated with the 'Elders of Israel' that night.
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31a he can command fifty Here
is the first real hint as to Laban's identity other than being a wealthy
man of power with servants. Laban is the 'commander' of fifty. In a
strict military since, out on the field of battle, this is not many to be
in command of. But in the city, an officiating officer of the city who
commands fifty is a much more powerful person. And in a society which is
ruled by its 'Law of Moses' of the religious sector as well as by the King
the question become's just who's Captain was Laban, the crown's or the
temple's so to speak. We will find out more specific information later which
will clearly imply that Laban is no ordianry commander or captian of fifty.
Laban is the commander of the fifty officers of the governing body of the
'elders of Israel', the 'Sarim', the Sanhedrin of Lehi's day. [Note: Being
the Sarim's Captain of the Temple would tend to explain further why Laban
held a treasury containing the plates of brass which the elders of the Church
would often consult according to the circumstancial descriptions surrounding
Zoram's understanding of the relationship of the 'elders of the Church' to
Laban the the brass plates record (1 Nephi 4:22-27).
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30a
1 Ne. 4:3;
1 Ne. 16:38
31a
TG
Murmuring
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LABAN & NEPHI
A COMPARATIVE SET OF OBSERVATIONS
The condensensed abridgment of Nephi's summary small plates record which primarily focused upon
the more spiritual aspects has left much of the fuller life details out. It would be of some
interest to have known some more particulars concerning such as Laban, his ancestral house, which
came to the keeping of the Record of Joseph, and his role as the 'Captain of Fifty' of the
Sarim Council of Jerusalem. When Lehi and young Nephi left Jerusalem and came to live in a tent
three days journey in the wilderness from the likes of Ezion-geber or Elath, Nephi states that he
was 'exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature' (1 Nephi 2:16). At the beginning then
in the valley of Lemuel beside the river of Laman, Nephi had yet to embark upon his 'young manhood'
marked by the 12-13th year of life when a youth turns his focus from childhood to the more
spiritual aspects of becoming a man in Israel.
It is most likely that Nephi turned that important corner in the first seasons of their years
stay in the valley whose name strength and comparison to Lehi's elder sons was taken from those
such meanings as marked by Ezion-geber itself. It would have been a central focus of Nephi to
so honor his coming of age by turning his own conscienciousness unto his relationship to and with
God. And Nephi was a choice spirit and when he sought the Lord, the Lord did respond and answer
him directly. When Nephi would share his experiences with the Lord with his brothers, Sam
responded favorably and believed all that Nephi confided in him. But Laman and Lemuel did not.
And with love and concern, Nephi sought unto the Lord again relative to the welfare of his older
brothers. And in that consultation with the Lord, the Lord made commitments unto Nephi and Nephi's
future role in the family and his relationship with the Lord.
Yes, Nephi had turned of the age of young manhood. And he had began fully to attain to a serious
relationship with God and in the development of his adult spiritual being. And in the course of
accepting the task which Lehi called his sons to perform, Nephi commited to it full heartedly.
And in so doing, over those related events, Nephi would further grow in his adulthood, and though
but a young teenage adolesant, he would become fully a man in the role and task that he would
fulfill in Jerusalem and during those events involing Laban, the Captain of the Fifty of the
forces associated with the Council of the Sarim or the Seventy of Jerusalem. And at age 13 or
so, Nephi was the size of a full sized man, even of the stature and size of Laban himself. Now
a six foot or more sized 13 year old is not the norm, but neither is it unheard of. And Nephi at
that age and of that stature was already a full sized 'man' of the height and size of the feared
Captain Laban.
At the fateful evening, Captain Laban was in full armor with the famed sword of Laban.
He had been meeting with the council of the 'Elders'. And he was the image of Law Enforcement
Authority as the Council's Captain of the Fifty of the city's rulers, the Sarim or
Sanhedrin of the age of Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Lehi. In his writings of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 8:11 & 16
(7-18)), the seventy of the Law of Moses was not about the Lord's work but involved in pagan
worship. Nephi's record also atest that they were but drunken winebibbers of low moral character,
persecutors of the prophets of God who prophesied against the wickedness of the Jews, their
leaders, and of the destruction of Jerusalem. The 'Jews' in their counsels, in their murderous
intents, sought the life of Lehi. And Laban was their enforcer?
By the end of that meeting of the Elders of the 'Church', Captain Laban had become drunk. He had
that day acquired the great wealth of Lehi and had celebrated excessively. Nephi would find him
passed out in the streets of the city. Though of older age and likely a heavier man, Laban's
height and stature of a fullsized man but matched the much younger 13 year old Nephi, a man of
large stature himself. Young Nephi would be called upon by the Lord to become even more of a man.
The Lord had delivered Laban into Nephi's hands, and the spirit of God commanded Nephi to carry
out the execution of God's judgment upon wicked Laban. Laban, of the wicked Sarim, was guilty of
many sins including those against Lehi and his family. Righteous justice came upon
Laban's head. The full sized man's garments, armorment and sword of Laban fit Nephi well and Nephi
looked every wit the height and full sized of the fearsome Laban, the Captain of the Fifty of the
Sarim of Jerusalem. Even Laban's servant Zoram would mistake Nephi for his master Laban in the
night shadows that evenning.
Nephi, a man of large
stature. — Aged about 13 years.
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