Structure of 1 Nephi and 2 Nephi

Frederick Axelgard argues in BYU Studies 26 no 4 (Fall 1986) that 1st and 2nd Nepali should be seen as a single document with the following structure:

1 Ne 1 -18  Nephi’s family history

1 Ne 19- 2 Ne 5 Other prophets’ writings and spiritual matters

2 Ne 6 – 33 Conclusion.

Joseph Spencer sees the underlying structure as based on the plan of redemption:

1 Ne 1-18 Creation

1 Ne 19 – 2 Ne 5 Fall

2 Ne 6-30 Atonement

2 Ne 31-33 Veil

And sees the same structure in 1 Nephi 1:1

Creation – ‘born of goodly parents’

Fall – ‘many afflictions’

Atonement – ‘highly favoured of the Lord’

Veil – ‘ a great knowledge of …..the mysteries of God.

The name Sariah

The name Sariah (in various forms or spellings)  is found 19 times in the Old Testament. On every occasion it refers to a man. However, the Elephantine papyri includes documents about a jewish community living in Egypt during the 5th to 4th centuries BC and refer to a female called Sariah. Scholars believe that the Jewish community came from Northern Israel. Significantly, it is believed that Lehi and his family, being of the tribe of Manasseh came from Northern Israel. The Elephantine papyri were not discovered and translated until the early 20th Century.

Lehi’s prophecies

Lehi was a contemporary of the prophet Jeremiah. David and Jo Seeley in ‘Lehi & Jeremiah: Prophets Priests and Patriarchs’  note that:

‘ The prophecies of Jeremiah and Levi have four common and central themes:

Repentance and the impending destruction and exile by the Babylonians;

The coming of the Messiah;

The future scattering and gathering of Israel;

And the eventual restoration off the gospel in the latter days.’