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Without the Mormon Lens: 14 - Zoram

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By Mason
It's been a few weeks since my last post, and I apologize. Life got crazy for a minute there and I had to put this project on the back burner.

Let's just jump right back in to where we were. Nephi had just killed Laban and is about to attempt to finally retrieve the plates. We are going to focus this post on Zoram, the servant of Laban. 


The Book of Mormon, pg 13

~~~~~The Book of Mormon~~~~~
"And again -- I knew that the Lord had delivered Laban into my hands, for this cause: that I might obtain the records according to his commandments. Therefore I did obey the voice of the spirit, and took Laban by the hair of the head, and I smote off his head with his own sword."

"And after that I had smitten off his head with his own sword, I took the garments of Laban and put them upon mine own body; yea, even every whit; and I did gird on his armour about my loins." (pg 13)
~~~~~~~~~~

This type of language sorrounding 'girding' the armor is found several times in the Bible. One in particular sticks out to me in the account of Moses preparing the Isrealites for the temple. (If you'll recall, Nephi and his family are based off of the Isrealites)

~~~~~The Old Testament ~~~~~

5 And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the Lord commanded to be done. 

6 And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.

 7 And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith. (Leviticus 8:5-7)
~~~~~~~~~~

The messaging here seems to bear a similar tone to the words spoken by God, to Job

~~~~~ The Old Testament ~~~~~
7 Gird up thy loins now like a man... (Job 40:7)
~~~~~~~~~~

Now... this next part is going to be tricky for me to express exactly where I see the comparisons to the Bible. I'm looking at the book of Joshua in chapter 8 and I feel like there is a parallel here but I just can't quite find a way demonstrate it. So bear with me if it doesn't make much sense, it's very likely I'll come back and tackle it again later.

Remember. Nephi had gone into Jerusalem alone to retrieve the brass plates (Their inheritance). His brothers are waiting outside of the walls of the city for him to return. This is was initially brought me to Joshua 8. As Nephi seems to be a parallel of Joshua, and Joshua had his people wait for him outside of the city of Ai. (Which was part of their inheritance)

~~~~~The Old Testament ~~~~•
4 And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready: 

5 And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them (Joshua 8:4-5)

12 And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Beth-el and Ai, on the west side of the city.

13 And when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.

 14  And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city. (Joshua 8:12-13)
~~~~~~~

Now you might think this is a bit of a stretch to say that these two stories are even remotely related. And I might even agree with you. But let's look at the overarching story here. Nephi went in alone and approached Laban. Joshua went into the city of Ai and "approached the people".

But then what? Joshua went into the city with intent to lead the people out into an ambush. Nephi went in and killed Laban. So I'll admit there's a bit of a stretch here, but as both stories continue, you might see some themes of deceipt at play here.

~~~~~The Book of Mormon ~~~~~
"And after that I had done this, I went forth unto the treasury of Laban, And as I went forth towards the treasury of Laban, behold I saw the servant of Laban which had the keys of the treasury. And I commanded him in the voice of Laban, that he should go with me into the treasury; and he supposed me to be his master, Laban, for he beheld the garments, and also the sword girted about my loins. And he spake unto me concerning the elders of the Jews, he knowing that his master Laban had been out by night among them. And I spake unto him as if it had been Laban. And I also spake unto him that I should carry the engravings which were upon the plates of brass, to my elder brethren, which were without the walls. And I also bade him that he should follow me. And he, supposing that I spake of the brethren of the church, and that I was truly that Laban whom I had slain, wherefore he did follow me. "

~~~~~The Old Testament ~~~~~
16 And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city. (Joshua 8:16)

~~~~~The Book of Mormon ~~~~~
"And he spake unto me many times concerning the elders of the Jews, as I went forth unto my brethren, which were without walls." (pg 13)

~~~~~ The Old Testament ~~~~~
18 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city. 

19 And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire. (Joshua 8:18-19)

~~~~~The Book of Mormon ~~~~~
"And it came to pass that when Laman saw me, he was exceedingly frightened, and also Lemuel and Sam. And they fled from before my presence; for they supposed it was Laban, and that he had slain me, and had sought to take away their lives also. (pg 13)

~~~~~ The Old Testament ~~~~~
21 And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai. (Joshua 8:29)

~~~~~The Book of Mormon ~~~~~
"And it came to pass that I called after them, and they did hear me; wherefore they did cease to flee from my presence. And it came to pass that when the servant of Laban beheld my brethren, he began to tremble, and was about to flee from before me and return to the city of Jerusalem." (pg 13)

~~~~~ The Old Testament ~~~~~
 22 And the other issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape. (Joshua 8:22)

~~~~~The Book of Mormon ~~~~~
And now I, Nephi, being a man large in stature, and also having received much strength of the Lord, therefore I did seize upon the servant of Laban, and held him, that he should not flee. (pg 13)
~~~~~~~~~~

So now, the servant of Laban knows that his master is dead. Just as the people in Canaan knew that Joshua had taken countless cities from their kings. What happens in Joshua when the Gibeonites see the strength of the Isrealites? They join them in the Promised Land. Let's take a minute to compare these events to the servant of Laban.

The Book of Mormon (pg 14)

~~~~~The Book of Mormon ~~~~~
"And it came to pass that I spake with him, that if he would hearken unto my words, as the Lord liveth and as I live, even so that if he would hearken unto our words, we would spare his life. And I spake unto him, even with an oath, that he need not fear; that he should be a free man like unto us, if he would go down in the wilderness with us.

" And I also spake unto him, saying, surely the Lord hath commanded us to do this thing. And shall we not be diligent in keeping the commandments of the Lord? therefore, if thou wilt go down into the wilderness to my father, thou shalt have place with us." (pgs 13-14)

~~~~~ The Old Testament ~~~~~
3  And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai...

6... they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us. (Joshua 9:3-6)

~~~~~The Book of Mormon ~~~~~
"And it came to pass that Zoram did take courage at the words which I spake. Now Zoram was the name of the servant; and he promised that he would go down into the wilderness unto our father. And he also made an oath unto us, that he would tarry with us from that time forth. 

~~~~~ The Old Testament ~~~~~
15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.  (Joshua 9:15)

~~~~~The Book of Mormon ~~~~~
Now we were desirous that he should tarry with us for this cause: that the Jews might not know concerning our flight into the wilderness, lest they should pursue us and destroy us. (pg 14)

~~~~~ The Old Testament ~~~~~
16 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them. 

17 And the children of Israel journeyed,and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjath-jearim. (Joshua 9:16-17)

~~~~~The Book of Mormon ~~~~~
And it came to pass that when Zoram had made an oath unto us, our fears did cease concerning him. And it came to pass that we took the plates of brass and the servant of Laban, and departed into the wilderness, and journied into the tent of our father."
~~~~~~

My hope is that as you read that in context with my previous posts, that you are able to clearly see the inspiration for this story and how it was pulled from Joshua.

Check Your Understanding:

Test how well you remember the key ideas from the Zoram article.

1. Who is the main focus of this article’s close reading?




2. Where are Nephi’s brothers while he goes alone to retrieve the plates for the final time?




3. Why does Zoram initially mistake Nephi for Laban?




4. Which Old Testament story does the article mainly connect to Nephi sneaking into the city and drawing someone out?




5. What does Nephi promise Zoram if he will “hearken” and come into the wilderness?




6. Which Old Testament group does the article compare to Zoram joining Lehi’s family?




7. According to the article, why are Nephi and his brothers so anxious that Zoram stay with them?




8. How does Zoram ultimately respond to Nephi’s offer?




9. In the author’s model, what does the Zoram episode mainly illustrate?




10. Big picture, how does the article frame Nephi’s interaction with Zoram in the flow of 1 Nephi?






Nephi and his brothers give the plates to Lehi
Compare to Moses' directions to the Israelites in Deuteronomy

New here? Consider starting at the first post.





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