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

Book of Mormon Commentary
1 Nephi Chapter 7
"Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in
their ears ...and Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel ( all the 'kahal' of Israel;
that is, the entire assembly of elders and officers summoned to hear) the words of this song" (Deut,
31 :28-30) .
Moses could, of course, not speak to the entire nation in one meeting. When he had a message to
the people, he delivered it to a representative assembly, and they spoke to the people in their
various subdivisions. That assembly was their "kahal," their "church." Compare Num. 16:3, where
it appears that the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram was a rising in the "congregation of the
Lord" (literally, the "kanal of Jehovah"). See also Exod. 16:1-3. The entire congregation of the
children of Israel (the Hebrew here is "adath" for congregation) came to the wilderness of Sin. The
whole congregation of the children of Israel (the Hebrew is again "adath") murmured. But their
complaint was undoubtedly voiced in the representative assembly; for they said to Moses and
Aaron, Ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly (Hebrew "this
kahal") with hunger.
There is a clear distinction between the entire people of Israel and the church of Israel.
The Greeks, and especially the Athenians, of old had their ecclesia. That was their legislative
assembly, consisting of citizens, summoned to meet to transact public affairs. At Athens ordinary
assemblies were held in each “prytaneia" ("presidency"), which would be about once a week.
These assemblies were called "kyria ecclesia." Extraordinary assemblies were called whenever
they were thought necessary. Note that "ecclesis" is the term by which the Church of our Lord is
named in the famous passage (Matt. 16:18) "Upon this rock will build my church" (ecclesia). Note
also that the Greek term "kyria ecclesia" in a contracted form has become the Scotch "kirk," the
English "church," the German "Kirche," the Scandinavian "Kyrka," and "Kirke"; the French have
kept the same term in their "eglise."
1 Ne 7:55 And the time cometh speedily, that the righteous must be led up as calves of the stall, and the
Holy One of Israel must reign in dominion, and might, and power, and great glory.
7:55 The figure used here of the calves refers to God's protecting care for his people. Instead of
leaving the calves in the fields where they are born, they are to be gathered into barns during the
millennium, where they shall be nourished. Malachi uses this same simile, "But unto you that fear
my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and
grow up as calves of the stall" (Mal. 4:2).
1 Ne 7:60 And because of the righteousness of his people, Satan has no power;
7:60 Paul once wrote, "To whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are" (Rom.
6:16). James counseled, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (Jas. 4:7). The millennium
will be a righteous period when Satan will be powerless over life (D. and C. 43:7c; 45:10a). What
peace shall be ours when Satan “hath no power over the hearts of the people" (62) and we "shall
dwell safely in the Holy One of Israel" (64).