Book of Mormon Commentary - 2 Nephi 5

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 5 The Nephites separate themselves from the Lamanites, keep the law of Moses, and build a temple—Because of their unbelief, the Lamanites are cursed, receive a skin of blackness, and become a scourge unto the Nephites. [Between 588 and 559 B.C.]	The followers of Nephi separate themselves from the followers of Laman and Lemuel—They keep the law of Moses and build a temple unto the Lord in design like unto Solomon's—Because of their rejection of the Lord, the 'Lamanites' receive a skin of blackness—They are a scourge unto the 'Nephites' and used by the Lord to stir the Nephites into remembrance of the Lord. [Between 578 and 559 B.C.]
1 BEHOLD, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cry much unto the Lord my God, because of the ^aanger of my brethren. 2 But behold, their ^aanger did increase against me, insomuch that they did seek to take away my life. 3 Yea, they did murmur against me, saying: Our younger brother thinks to ^arule over us; and we have had much trial because of him; wherefore, now let us slay him, that we may not be afflicted more because of his words. For behold, we will not have him to be our ruler^a; for it belongs unto us, who are the elder brethren, to ^brule over this people^b. Echoings of the Past An Angel of God had stated to Laman and Lemuel the fact of the matter when the were in the process of beating their younger brother Nephi with a rod. That angel stated, "Know ye not that the Lord hath chosen him to be a ruler over you ... " (1 Nephi 4:29). But despite being told by an angel of God, Laman and Lemuel did persist and upon a number of occasions had sought the life of Nephi. Now that their father Lehi was dead, the clear 'leadership of the house of Lehi' was now at the forefront. Upon the ocean seas, Laman and Lemuel had taken and bound Nephi, having plainly stated, "We will not that our younger brother shall be a ruler over us" (1 Nephi 18:10). These very sentiments, if not the actual words, were but echoes long back into Israelite history, for it was the elder brothers of Joseph who also had so determined that they would not let their younger brother Joseph live to rule over them as had been so established to be the order in the house of Jacob.	3^a we will not have him to be our ruler Laman and Lemuel, being the older brothers, had determined that Nephi, there younger brother should not rule over them. Even though the Lord had set it forth and their father Lehi would have established it to be so, Laman and Lemuel still coveted the position of leadership as being the eldest brothers, or it should be pointed out that Laman would have been the ruler and Lemuel supported him in this. This is not a new circumstance in a house of Israel. So was the house of Jacob and his eldest son Joseph whom the Lord had revealed to be the leader over the house of Israel after his father Jacob. Joseph had dreamed such dreams from the Lord and Jacob did properly observe the 'saying' concerning Joseph being heir of the birthright of the leadership of the family (Genesis 37:5-11) And Jacob did honored Joseph in this position with the 'coat of the covenant', that being a coat of many colors in token of the sign of the covenant the rainbow. And his elder brothers did 'envy' and covet Joseph's recognized position in Jacob's house. 3^a it belongs unto us, who are the elder brethern, to rule over this people So would have been the sentiments of the brothers of Joseph. His elder brothers, and the 'heir' apparent, if it had not been for Joseph, namely Judah, had decided among themselves, like Laman and Lemuel, that they 'would not have their younger brother to rule over them'. And they had plotted to kill Joseph saying 'let us slay him', and concerning Joseph becoming the ruler of the house of Jacob, they said, 'and then we shall see what will become of his dreams' Genesis 37:20, And even so did Laman and Lemuel plot to kill Nephi to prevent him from becoming the 'ruler' of his father Lehi's house as the Lord had pronounced and as Lehi had established to be.	1^a 2 Ne. 4:13; Jacob 7:24; Enos 1:20; Mosiah 10:12, 15 2^a 1 Ne. 7:6-19; 1 Ne. 17:18 (17-55); 1 Ne. 18:10 (9-22); 2 Ne. 4:13-14 3^a Num. 16:13; 1 Ne. 16:37-38; Mosiah 10:15 ^b Alma 54:17
4 Now I do not write upon these plates all the words which they murmured against me. But it sufficeth me to say, that they did seek to take away my life. 5 And it came to pass that the Lord did ^awarn me, that I, ^bNephi, should depart from them and flee into the wilderness, and all those who would go with me.		5^a TG Guidance, Divine ^b Mosiah 10:13
6 Wherefore, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did take my family, and also ^aZoram and his family, and Sam, mine elder brother and his family, and Jacob and Joseph, my younger brethren^a, and also my sisters, and all those who would go with me. And all those who would go with me were those who believed in the ^bwarnings and the revelations of God; wherefore, they did hearken unto my words. 7 And we did take our tents and whatsoever things were possible for us, and did journey in the wilderness for the space of many days. And after we had journeyed for the space of many days we did pitch our tents^a. 8 And my people would that we should call the name of the place ^aNephi; wherefore, we did call it Nephi.	7^a after we had journeyed for the space of many days we did pitch our tents Now those who do favor a limited geography to the Book of Mormon would have us suppose that this journey of many days did not remove Nephi and his followers any great distance from the now called 'Lamanites'. 'They' present the notion that the 'many days' were but about 8 days or wandering for merely the distance of about 80 to 100 miles, which they contest that in a striaght line distance to even be greatly less, perhaps 40 miles. This places the initial travel distance to the sight of 'Nephi' within about the distance that these same 'Limited Model Theorists' would set for the distance of their narrow neck, across which could be traveld by a Nephite in about one and a half days. There is a great inconsistancy here. They even propose that while Nephi was commanded of the Lord, Nephi would not have used the Liahona to find his way to their new destination. (See 'Mormon's Map' p. 72-74 and other writings and concepts proposed by John L. Soreson and such) This they have to presume in order to make the Book of Mormon fit into their prefered limited region of Mesoamerica. Now, in a diferent arena, the more spiritual accepted consideration is that after being commanded of God, Nephi would most certainly look to the Liahona for direction to travel. Nephi would not have traveled in lost wanderings but in a designed direction. And the many days could easily taken Nephi and his people over at least one mountain and valley and into the heart of the land from the sea shore land of first inheritance. A distance of some 150 miles would not be out of order. That is approximately the distance from Lima Peru to Chavin de Huantar, which society has many particular parallels with that of a Nephite nation suddenly appearing out of no where within buildings and a temple like unto Solomon's. Of course, presuming such an initial 'safe distance' of 150 miles reaps havoc with the Limited Theorists model.	6^a 1 Ne. 4:35; 1 Ne. 16:7; 2 Ne. 1:31 (30-32) ^b TG Warnings 8^a Omni 1:12, 27; Mosiah 7:1-7, 21; Mosiah 9:1-6, 14; Mosiah 28:1, 5; Alma 2:24; Alma 20:1; Alma 50:8, 11
9 And all those who were with me did take upon them to call themselves the ^apeople of Nephi. 10 And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the ^astatutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things according to the ^blaw of Moses. 11 And the Lord was with us; and we did ^aprosper exceedingly; for we did sow seed, and we did reap again in abundance. And we began to raise flocks, and herds, and animals of every kind.		9^a Jacob 1:14 10^a Ezek. 20:11; 2 Ne. 1:16-17 ^b 2 Ne. 11:4; TG Law of Moses 11^a Matt. 6:33
12 And I, Nephi, had also brought the records which were engraven upon the ^aplates of brass; and also the ^bball, or ^ccompass, which was prepared for my father by the hand of the Lord, according to that which is written. 13 And it came to pass that we began to prosper exceedingly, and to multiply in the land.		12^a 2 Ne. 4:2; Mosiah 1:3-4 ^b Mosiah 1:16 ^c 1 Ne. 16:16 (10, 16, 26); 1 Ne. 18:12, 21; Alma 37:38-47; D&C 17:1
14 And I, Nephi, did take the ^asword of Laban, and after the manner of it did make many ^bswords, lest by any means the people who were now called Lamanites should come upon us and destroy us; for I knew their ^chatred towards me and my children and those who were called my people. 15 And I did teach my people to ^abuild buildings, and to ^bwork in all ^cmanner of wood, and of ^diron, and of copper, and of ^ebrass, and of steel, and of ^fgold, and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance.		14^a 1 Ne. 4:9; Jacob 1:10; W of M 1:13; Mosiah 1:16; D&C 17:1 ^b Jarom 1:8; Mosiah 10:8; Alma 2:12; Hel. 1:14; 3 Ne. 3:26 ^c TG Hate 15^a TG Skill ^b TG Art ^c Jarom 1:8 ^d Josh. 8:31; 1 Ne. 18:25; Jacob 2:12-13; Hel. 6:9-11; Ether 9:17; Ether 10:23 (12, 23); Moses 5:46 ^e Gen. 4:22 ^f Ex. 31:4-5; 1 Kings 6:21-22; D&C 124:26-27
16 And I, Nephi, did ^abuild a ^btemple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of ^cSolomon^a save it were not built of so many ^dprecious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon's ^etemple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of ^fSolomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine. 17 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cause my people to be ^aindustrious, and to ^blabor with their ^chands. 18 And it came to pass that they would that I should be their ^aking. But I, Nephi, was desirous that they should have no king; nevertheless, I did for them according to that which was in my power.	16^a I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon Now the temple of Solomon was to the keeping the ordinances and performances of the Law Moses, which was a law of animal sacrifice, that sacrifice being a foreshadowing and a similitude of that great atoning sacrifice of the Son of God, that he would lay down his life an suffer for the sins of the world to bring about the salvation of man.	16^a 2 Chr. 3:1-17; D&C 84:5, 31; D&C 124:31 (25-55) ^b 1 Kings 5:5; Jacob 1:17; Mosiah 1:18; Mosiah 7:17; Mosiah 11:10; Alma 16:13; Hel. 3:14 (9,14); 3 Ne. 11:1; TG Temple ^c 1 Kings 6:2 ^d 1 Kings 5:17 ^e 1 Kings 9:1 ^f 1 Chr. 18:8 17^a TG Industry; TG Work, Value of ^b TG Labor ^c Prov. 31:13 18^a 2 Ne. 6:2; Jacob 1:9, 11, 15; Jarom 11:7, 14; Mosiah 1:10 Jachin and Boaz At the intrance to Solomon's temple where placed two pillars, Jachin and Boaz by name (1 Kings 7:13-22). Now while Nephi's temple was 'like' that of Solomon, it certainly would not be so 'grand' in size of design for his small party to have built. Interestingly enough, one of the few uses of round pillars by American ancient societies in found in the design of the temple at Chavin de Huantar, where two pillars mark the entrance to the porch of the temple as pictured. The more modest pillars are that which would be expected of Nephi's small group rather than such as that are 18 cubits in height as built by Solomon with limitless resources of man power and such things of the world to draw upon.
19 And behold, the words of the Lord had been fulfilled unto my brethren, which he spake concerning them, that I should be their ^aruler and their teacher. Wherefore, I had been their ruler and their ^bteacher, according to the commandments of the Lord, until the time they sought to take away my life. 20 Wherefore, the word of the Lord was fulfilled which he spake unto me, saying that: Inasmuch as they will ^anot hearken unto thy words they shall be ^bcut off from the presence of the Lord. And behold, they were ^ccut off from his presence.		19^a 1 Ne. 2:25-27 ^b TG Teacher 20^a 1 Ne. 8:18 ^b 1 Ne. 8:35-36 ^c 1 Ne. 2:21; Alma 9:14 (13-15); Alma 38:1
21 And he had caused the ^acursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and ^bdelightsome, that they might not be ^centicing unto my people the Lord God did cause a ^dskin of ^eblackness to come upon them. 22 And thus saith the Lord God: I will cause that they shall be ^aloathsome unto thy people, save they shall repent of their iniquities. 23 And cursed shall be the seed of him that ^amixeth with their seed; for they shall be cursed even with the same cursing. And the Lord spake it, and it was done.		21^a TG Curse ^b Gen. 24:16; 1 Ne. 13:15; 4 Ne. 1:10; Morn. 9:6 ^c TG Marriage, Temporal ^d 2 Ne. 30:6; 3 Ne. 2:15 (14-16) ^e 2 Ne. 26:33; Moses 7:8 22^a 1 Ne. 12:23 23^a TG Marriage, Interfaith
24 And because of their ^acursing which was upon them they did become an ^bidle people, full of mischief and subtlety, and did seek in the wilderness for beasts of prey. 25 And the Lord God said unto me: They shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to ^astir them up in remembrance of me; and inasmuch as they will not remember me, and hearken unto my words, they shall scourge them even unto destruction.		24^a TG Curse ^b Alma 22:28; TG Idleness 25^a 1 Ne. 2:24
26 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did ^aconsecrate Jacob and Joseph, that they should be ^bpriests and ^cteachers over the land of my people. 27 And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of ^ahappiness. 28 And ^*thirty years had passed away from the time we left Jerusalem.		26^a Lev. 16:32; Jacob 1:18-19; Mosiah 23:17; TG Priesthood Authority ^b TG Priest ^c TG Teacher 27^a Alma 50:23 28^a** * [569 B.C.] **Consecrate Priests Though Leviticus 16:32 is used as a cross reference, perhaps a reference to Aaron's consecration would have been a 'truer' reference here. Leviticus 16:32 speaks specifically concerning the anointing of the temple high priest who is to act in the stead of his father as he who is to make the atonement sacrifice on the day of atonement in the temple. It is in similiture of The Father anointing his Son, Jehovah/Jesus Christ to act in his stead in all things and to make that representative atoning sacrifice for the sins of man. It is not a good reference for just any priest's ordination as was Jacob's and Joseph's consecrate to be serving priests unto the Nephites under the hand of their brother Nephi, though for sure Nephi did hold the proper priesthood authority to do so.
29 And I, Nephi, had kept the ^arecords upon my plates, which I had made, of my people thus far. 30 And it came to pass that the Lord God said unto me: ^aMake other plates; and thou shalt engraven many things upon them which are good in my sight, for the profit of thy people. 31 Wherefore, I, Nephi, to be obedient to the commandments of the Lord, went and made ^athese plates upon which I have engraven these things.		29^a TG Record Keeping 30^a 1 Ne. 19:5 (1-6); Jacob 3:14 31^a 1 Ne. 19:3; Jacob 1:1
32 And I engraved that which is pleasing unto God. And if my people are pleased with the things of God they will be pleased with mine engravings which are upon these plates. 33 And if my people desire to know the more particular part of the history of my people they must search mine ^aother ^bplates.		33^a 1 Ne. 1:17 (16-17); 2 Ne. 4:14; D&C 10:42 ^b 1 Ne. 19:4; Jacob 1:3
34 And it sufficeth me to say that *^forty years had passed away, and we had already had wars and contentions with our brethren^a**.	34^a forty years had passed away, and we had already had wars and contentions with our brethren. This 40 (forty) years is considered to be from the time Lehi left Jerusalem about 600 years before the birth of Christ. [600-40=560] This is somewhat nebulous and a bit presumptive, but time calculation seem to match with later changes of how time was marked in the Book of Mormon. Of course Lehi likely began having his visions from the Lord in the year 601 B.C. (calculated), left in 600 B.C. (calculated) and here the suggestion is that it is now at this point in the Book of Mormon 559 B.C. Those dates are not set in stone and are subject to some speculation, but serfice it to say time has past on in terms of a number of years of some 60 plus years since when the text was begun.	34^a * [559 B.C.]
*^ Verse 28 [569 B.C.]; Verse 34 [559 B.C.].**

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