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Book of Mormon Commentary
Mosiah Chapter 7
THE WICKED KING NOAH AND HIS PRIESTS, VER. 1-27
Mos 7:1 And now it came to pass that Zeniff conferred the kingdom upon Noah, one of his sons;
therefore Noah began to reign in his stead; and he did not walk in the ways of his father.
7:1 The time element of this change is not revealed. Noah may have been the oldest son. He was a
dissolute, evil-minded tyrant, and because of his example, he caused "his people to commit sin, and do
that which was abominable in the sight of the Lord" ( 4). The first evil recorded against the king is that
he "had many wives and concubines" (3). A tax of "a fifth part of their ziff, ...copper, ... brass, ...iron;
...their fatlings; and. ..their grain. ..did he take, to support himself, and his wives, and his concubines" (6,
7). "Thus they were supported in their laziness, ...idolatry, and ...whoredoms" (9).
"Ziff" is an unknown metal of uncertain character. The Hebrew word means "brightness"; therefore, it
was a lustrous metal. Daniel 2:31 refers to a metal image and uses the same Hebrew word referring to its
brightness.
All of the priests who had been consecrated by Zeniff were "put down" (8) and Noah's own kind put "in
their stead."
Mos 7:11 And it came to pass that King Noah built many elegant and spacious buildings; and he
ornamented them with fine work of wood, and of all manner of precious things, of gold, and of silver,
and of iron, and of brass, and of ziff, and of copper;
7:11 The temple was refurbished, high priests set apart, and special seats, above the other seats, were
made for them which were ornamented with “pure gold" (14). Tall towers were built so King Noah
could overlook the land.
Mos 7:21 And it came to pass that he planted vineyards round about in the land; and he built wine
presses, and made wine in abundance; and therefore he became a winebibber, and also his people.
7:21 As they thus became ripe in iniquity, their enemies came upon them "to slay them in their fields,
and while they were tending their flocks" (22). King Noah sent guards, but these were killed off. Then
he sent his army, which won a temporary victory. This caused the Nephites to boast "that their fifty
could stand against thousands of the Lamanites" (26). Drunkenness led to other vices. The people
eventually lost their independence. (See Mosiah 10:14.)
ABINADI PROPHESIES wlrn WARNINGS, VER. 28-58
Mos 7:30 Go forth and say unto this people, Thus saith the Lord:
Mos 7:31 Wo be unto this people, for I have seen their abominations, and their wickedness, and their
whoredoms: and except they repent, I will visit them in mine anger.
7:30, 31 Abinadi prophesied boldly. He did not fear to declare the words of the Lord. "And except they
repent in sackcloth and ashes, and cry mightily to the Lord" (37) Abinadi said they would be sorely
afflicted.
Mos 7:39 Now it came to pass that when Abinadi had spoken these words unto them, they were wroth
with him, and sought to take away his life; but the Lord delivered him out of their hands.