Omni 1:26-30
From Feast upon the Word (http://feastupontheword.org). Copyright, Feast upon the Word.
The Book of Mormon > Omni > Chapter 1
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Contents |
Questions
Verse 26
- Do we find this idea of offering our souls as an offering to God anywhere else in previous scripture? In subsequent scripture, it seems a similar idea is expressed in 3 Ne 9:19-20, where the Nephites are told to offer a broken heart and contrite spirit to God instead of sacrifices and burnt offerings--this seems to be referring to animal sacrifices and offerings, possibly including vegetable offerings (see John Dunnill's article in The Journal of Religion, V. 81.1, pp. 79-93), but apparently not "soul offerings" as Omni is talking about here. In this sense, is it justifiable to trace a progression of thought from Jacob's teaching that the law of Moses points "our souls to [Christ]" (Jacob 4:5) to what Amaleki is saying here?
- How can this verse help us understand the significance of the altar in temple ceremonies, both in the endowment and in sealings? How might the the altar in modern temple ordinances affect the way we read this verse?
Verse 27
- Why might these people have been "desirous to possess the land of their inheritance" when they or their parents had been told to flee from there? Didn't these people now have a new land of inheritance in the land of Zarahemla? Why would they consider the land of Nephi to be their "land of inheritance"?
- Is there any evidence that the Nephites were anxious to reclaim the temple that they had abandoned upon fleeing the Land of Nephi?
Verse 28
- What does it mean to be a "strong and mighty" man?
Lexical notes
Strong and Mighty
The following men are described as large, strong, or mighty men in the Book of Mormon:
- Brother of Jared (large and mighty) Ether 1:34
- Old Testament king Nimrod (mighty hunter) Ether 2:1
- Jaredite Shule (strong...and mighty as to the strength of a man) Ether 7:8
- Unnamed Jaredite usurper (mighty) Ether 11:15
- Second unnamed usurper, descendant of Brother of Jared (mighty) Ether 11:17.
- Jaredite warriors (large and mighty as to the strength of men) Ether 12:26
- Laban (mighty) 1 Ne 3:31.
- Nephi (large in stature, and also having received much strength) 1 Ne 4:31
- Nephite kings and leaders (mighty men in the faith of the Lord) Jarom 1:7
- The leader of this exploration party to the Land of Nephi (strong and mighty) Omni 1:28.
- Ammon, royal Mulekite descendant of Zarahemla (strong and mighty) Mosiah 7:3
- Gideon (strong man) Mosiah 19:4
- Nehor (large and noted for his much strength) Alma 1:2
- Amalickiah (a large and a strong man) Alma 46:3
- Captain Moroni (strong and mighty) Alma 48:11
- Coriantumr, a descendant of Zarahemla and defector from the Nephites (large and mighty) Hel 1:15
- Mormon (large in stature) Morm 2:1
These terms are used most often to describe Jaredite or Mulekite military leaders. When the ancestry of a person so described is not mentioned (eg. Nehor, Amalickiah, leader of expedition in Ommi--perhaps the terms indicate that they share Jaredite or Mulekite ancestry (an exception being Captain Moroni?). Perhaps these phrases pass beyond mere description, to serve as military titles. Interestingly, "strong and mighty" is first used in the Nephite record here in Omni after Mosiah has translated the brief record of the Jaredites and the Nephites have integrated with the Mulekites.
Exegesis
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