Comments on 1 Nephi 7

	With respect to Ishmael's descendency there is nothing
in the BofM explicitly identifying either Ishmael's or 
Zoram's lineage.  We know plainly that Lehi was through 
Joseph via Manasseh per 1 Ne. 5:16 and Alma 10:3.  Despite 
the lack of any explicit statement, it is likely Ishamel is 
of the lineage of Ephraim.  Erastus Snow commented on this:

     The Prophet Joseph informed us that the record of 
     Lehi was contained on the 116 pages that were first 
     translated and subsequently stolen, and of which an 
     abridgement is given us in the first Book of Nephi, 
     which is the record of Nephi individually, he himself 
     being of the lineage of Manasseh; but that Ishmael 
     was of the lineage of Ephraim, and that his sons 
     married into Lehi's family, and Lehi's sons married 
     Ishmael's daughters, thus fulfilling the words of 
     Jacob upon Ephraim and Manasseh in the 48th chapter 
     of Genesis, which says: ‘And let my name be named on
     them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; 
     and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of 
     the land. (Journal of Discourses 23:184)

The quote makes reference to a teaching of Smith obtained
from the lost 116 pages.  I have checked thoroughly and 
cannot turn up any quote attributable to Smith himself on 
this matter.  And, I have not been able to produce any 
additional contemporary quotes stating the same.
     While the Snow citation is annecdotal and 
uncorroborated, I would have to be in favor of it based upon 
the argument that the BofM is the stick of Ephraim.  Its not 
the stick of Manasseh.  As Lehi was from Manasseh, and all 
of his sons married Ishmael's daughters, and the BofM is 
considered the book of Ephraim, then the Nephites and 
Lamanites had to have substantial Ephraimite blood in them
even though their patriarchy would legally be through 
Manasseh.  Where else could this blood have come from if 
not from their wives?  It obviously wasn't from the 
Mulekites as they were of Judah.  Even if Zoram was of 
Ephraim, would that be enough of Ephraimite lineage to 
result in the whole of the population being labeled as 
much?  No, not like all all of the sons having Ephraimite 
wives would be.

v6  Note Laman and Lemuel don't rebel until after they get 
Ishamael and his family to go with them.  Laman and the rest 
are willing to go along with things as long as they are 
getting something out of it, i.e. wives, but after that, 
then they rebel.



Copyright © 2001 by S. Kurt Neumiller <kurtn@cybcon.com>.  All rights 
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