Nephi is led by the spirit not knowing beforehand what he should do. But he is brought right to Laban who in his drunken state was heading home. He passes out before he gets home. Getting drunk takes away our agency, we lose the ability to think and to reason, and in Labans case to defend ones self at all.
Nephi then sees Laban's sword and immediately draws it from the sheath. He recognizes that the hilt is of pure gold, and really fine workmanship. He also notices that the blade is of the most precious steel. He was educated enough in metals to recognize all of this. It shouldn't surprise us as we know they had lots of items of gold and silver in their home. I have to imagine that that is what caused him to first pull the sword from the sheath. Of course he was also following the spirit.
The cross-reference for the word 'sword' takes us to a verse in the next chapter that discusses the fact that the genealogy found on the plates shows that they are descendants of Manasseh. I couldn't hlep but think, why this cross-reference. As I kept reading I also saw that Laban was also a descendant and that Laban had the plates because they were passed down from father to son. Here are a few things that came to mind as I reviewed these verses:
1. Nephi needed the sword to kill Laban, in a humane way, and retrieve the plates. (pretty simple and accepted truths)
2. Nephi recognized that the sword was a family heirloom and was impressed that Laban had it (lots of speculation but could be possible)
3. Nephi saw it and thought, I could replicate this. Which he would eventually do. He was probably grateful for a piece that could be his sample. He would need it as he prepared his people to defend themselves against the Lamanites.
This sword does show up later through out history and is one of the few artifacts that remains with the plates.
Nephi then sees Laban's sword and immediately draws it from the sheath. He recognizes that the hilt is of pure gold, and really fine workmanship. He also notices that the blade is of the most precious steel. He was educated enough in metals to recognize all of this. It shouldn't surprise us as we know they had lots of items of gold and silver in their home. I have to imagine that that is what caused him to first pull the sword from the sheath. Of course he was also following the spirit.
The cross-reference for the word 'sword' takes us to a verse in the next chapter that discusses the fact that the genealogy found on the plates shows that they are descendants of Manasseh. I couldn't hlep but think, why this cross-reference. As I kept reading I also saw that Laban was also a descendant and that Laban had the plates because they were passed down from father to son. Here are a few things that came to mind as I reviewed these verses:
1. Nephi needed the sword to kill Laban, in a humane way, and retrieve the plates. (pretty simple and accepted truths)
2. Nephi recognized that the sword was a family heirloom and was impressed that Laban had it (lots of speculation but could be possible)
3. Nephi saw it and thought, I could replicate this. Which he would eventually do. He was probably grateful for a piece that could be his sample. He would need it as he prepared his people to defend themselves against the Lamanites.
This sword does show up later through out history and is one of the few artifacts that remains with the plates.
No comments:
Post a Comment