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Book of Mormon Commentary
1 Nephi Chapter 5
A few years ago your loudest objection to the Jaredite history would most certainly have been its
careless references to iron and even steel in an age when iron and steel were supposedly
undreamed of. Today the protest must be rather feeble, even in those quarters "still under the
influence of a theory of evolutionism which has been dragged so unfortunately into the study of
ancient history." Nothing better illustrates the hopelessness of trying to apply the neat, convenient,
mechanical rule of progress to history than the present-day status of the metal ages. Let me refer
you to Wainwright's recent study on "The Coming of Iron." There you will learn that the use of
iron is as "primitive as that of any other metal: in using scraps of meteoric iron while still in the
Chalcolithic Age the predynastic Egyptians were in no way unusual. The Eskimos did so, though
otherwise only in the Bone Age, as did the neolithic Indians of Ohio. The Sumerians of Ur were at
that time in the early Bronze Age though later they relapsed into the Copper Age." The possibility
of relapse is very significant - there is no reason why other nations cannot go backwards as well as
the Sumerians. But scraps of meteoric iron were not the only prehistoric source, for "it now
transpires that, though not interested in it, man was able at an extremely early date to smelt his
own iron from its ores and manufacture it into weapons." But how can any men have made such a
great discovery or perpetuated such a difficult art without being interested in it?
1 Ne 5:25 And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, did begin to murmur
exceedingly, because of their sufferings and afflictions in the wilderness; and also my father began to
murmur against the Lord his God; yea, and they were all exceeding sorrowful, even that they did
murmur against the Lord.
5:25 In each case of previous hardships Nephi was the object of the wrath of his brethren. But this
was different, for the group was hungry and faced possible starvation. Even Lehi joined in and
murmured against the Lord. When faith is severely tried, even a prophet can make mistakes.
Few biblical characters were accustomed to hunting. Exceptions might be pointed out, however.
Nimrod "was a mighty hunter in the land" (Gen. 10:5). "Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the
field" (Gen. 25:27). He was a skillful user of the bow and arrow (Gen. 27:3). The Hebrews used
these weapons in war, but it took long practice to be effective with them. This may account
somewhat for the predicament the caravan was now in. Not only did the steel bow break, but the
other bows had "lost their springs” (I N. 5:26).
1 Ne 5:28 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make out of wood a bow, and out of a straight stick, an
arrow; wherefore, I did arm myself with a bow and an arrow, with a sling, and with stones.
5:28 In all this trial of loss and murmuring Nephi retained his faith and composure. He was truly a
man of God and a real leader. Instead of lamenting, he began experimenting with wood and made
a bow and arrow. With these and a sling he was ready to venture forth.
Along with the sword and spear, the bow, qesheth, was from early times the most used weapon. It
was made of elastic wood, sometimes of bronze …The bowstring was made of the intestines of
oxen or camels; the arrows, hitstsim, of reed or light wood, The arrowheads were at first probably
of stone, later of bronze and iron. They were sharpened (Isa, 49:2), also poisoned (cf Ps, 120:4),
and provided with barbs (Job 6:4), and in times of siege were wound with tow and pitch, and
ignited (cf Ps, 7:13). The quiver, ashpaw (]ob 39:23), or teli (Gen, 27:3), in which the arrows were
kept, was carried by the foot- soldier on the back, or at the left side; the chariot-warrior had it