Book of Mormon Commentary CofC - Odessa, Missouri Community ...

INTERMARRIAGE OF FAMILIES, VER. 7-9
Book of Mormon Commentary
1 Nephi Chapter 5
1 Ne 5:7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, took one of the daughters of Ishmael to wife; and also, my
brethren took of the daughters of Ishmael to wife; and also, Zoram took the eldest daughter of Ishmael to
wife.
5:7 It is not clear whether Nephi was the first to set up a family unit, or if he merely were disposed
to speak first of his marriage. The Lord had pointed out the need for Lehi's sons to have wives,
"that they might raise up seed unto the lord in the land of promise”. This need was supplied by
returning to Jerusalem where Ishmael's family with five daughters and two sons were agreeable to
join them on the journey (I N. 2:12, see comment).
On their return to the wilderness, Laman and Lemuel became rebellious. Although no marriages
had taken place so far as revealed in the record, two of Ishmael's daughters sided with them,
showing they were kindred spirits.
Zoram, the former secretary or servant of Laban, may have been older than Lehi's sons, for the
records read that he "took the eldest daughter of Ishmael to wife." Ishmael's two sons, who also
went with the caravan, were already married as the record reads, "the two sons, and their families."
1 Ne 5:8 And thus my father had fulfilled all the commandments of the Lord which had been given unto
him.
5:8 They had the scriptures and genealogy on the brass plates, and now the family units had been
established. Thus they were ready to continue their journey. God's primary edict “It was not good
that the man should be alone” (Gen. 2:23) had been observed.
CONTINUE JOURNEY TO SHAZAR, VER. 10-16
1 Ne 5:11 And it came to pass that as my father arose in the morning, and went forth to the tent door, to
his great astonishment, he beheld upon the ground a round ball, of curious workmanship; and it was of
fine brass.
5: 11 In the early days of the journey nearly every movement was commanded or shown to Lehi
by the lord. "On the morrow, he should take his journey." They had camped in the valley of
Lemuel long enough. What was asked of Lehi was faith, except such assurances as had come of
God's directing power. Laman and Lemuel had real reasons to doubt the wisdom of the venture,
since they had estranged themselves from the Lord by a faithless and rebellious spirit. They were
left to judge by the wisdom of man.
The brass ball was right at the door of Lehi's tent. There was to be no possibility of missing this,
for it was to be the means of divine direction and counsel for some years to come.
1 Ne 5:12 And within the ball were two spindles; and the one pointed the way whither we should go
into the wilderness.
5:12 This instrument was "of curious workmanship." If one were to find a modern watch on an
island which had never been inhabited, he could not be more surprised than Lehi and his group