ספר נפי הראשון שלטונו ומשרדו

    1 NEFI

    THE FIRST BOOK OF NEFI

    HIS REIGN AND MINISTRY

    An account of Lechi, and his wife Saryah, and his four sons being called, beginning at the eldest, Laman, L’mu’el, Sam, and Nefi. yhwh warns Lechi to depart out of the land of Yerushalayim because he prophesies unto the people concerning their iniquity and they seek to destroy his life. He takes three days journey into the wilderness with his family. Nefi takes his brothers and returns to the land of Yerushalayim after the record of the Y’hudim. The account of their sufferings. They take the daughters of Yishma’el to wife. They take their families and depart into the wilderness. Their sufferings and afflictions in the wilderness. The course of their travels. They come to the large waters. Nefi’s brothers rebel against him. He confounds them and builds a ship. They call the name of the place Bountiful. They cross the large waters into the promised land, and so forth. This is according to the account of Nefi, or in other words, I, Nefi, wrote this record.

    THE FIRST BOOK OF NEFI Chapter 1

  1. I Nefi,1 having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father. And having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of yhwh in all my days, yes, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of Elohim, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days. Yes, I make a record in the language2 of my father, which consists of the learning of the Y’hudim and the language of the Egyptians. And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with my own hand, and I make it according to my knowledge.
  2. For it came to pass in the commencement of the first year3 of the reign of Tzidkiyahu,4 king of Y’hudah — my father Lechi having dwelt at Yerushalayim5 in all his days — and in that same year there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people6 that they must repent or the great city Yerushalayim must be destroyed.
  3. Wherefore, it came to pass that my father Lechi, as he went forth, prayed unto yhwh, yes, even with all his heart in behalf of his people. And it came to pass as he prayed unto yhwh, there came a pillar of fire7 and dwelt8 upon a rock before him, and he saw and heard much. And because of the things which he saw and heard, he did quake and tremble exceedingly.

    The Ma’aseh Merkavah (account of the divine throne-chariot) of Lechi

    And it came to pass that he returned to his own house at Yerushalayim. And he cast himself upon his bed, being overcome with the spirit and the things which he had seen. And being thus overcome with the spirit, he was carried away in a vision, even that he saw the Heavens open and he thought he saw Elohim sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their Elohim. And it came to pass that he saw one descending out of the midst of Heaven, and he beheld that his luster was above that of the sun at noonday. And he also saw twelve others following him, and their brightness did exceed that of the stars in the firmament. And they came down and went forth upon the face of the earth. And the first came and stood before my father and gave unto him a book and directed him that he should read. And it came to pass that as he read he was filled with the spirit of yhwh. And he read, saying, Woe, woe unto Yerushalayim,9 for I have seen your abominations. Yes, and many things did my father read concerning Yerushalayim: that it should be destroyed and the inhabitants thereof; many should perish by the sword and many should be carried away captive into Babylon.10 And it came to pass that when my father had read and saw many great and marvelous things, he did exclaim many things unto yhwh, such as, Great and marvelous are your works, O Adonai yhwh Tzva’ot! Your throne is high in the Heavens, and your power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and because you are merciful, you will not allow those who come11 unto you that they shall perish! And after this manner was the language of my father in the praising of his Elohim, for his soul did rejoice12 and his whole heart was filled because of the things which he had seen, yes, which yhwh had shown unto him.

  4. And now I, Nefi, do not make a full account of the things which my father had written, for he has written many things which he saw in visions and in dreams.13 And he also has written many things which he prophesied and spoke unto his children, of which I shall not make a full account. But I shall make an account of my proceedings in my days. Behold, I make an abridgment of the record of my father upon plates which I have made with my own hands. Wherefore, after that I have abridged the record of my father, then will I make an account of my own life.
  5. Therefore, I would that you should know that after yhwh had shown so many marvelous things unto my father Lechi, yes, concerning the destruction of Yerushalayim, behold, he went forth among the people and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard. And it came to pass that the Judeans did mock him because of the things which he testified of them, for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations. And he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Mashiach and also the redemption of the world. And when the Judeans heard these things they were angry with him, yes, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out and stoned and slain; and they also sought his life that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nefi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of yhwh are over all those whom he has chosen because of their faith to make them mighty, even unto the power of deliverance.
  6. For behold, it came to pass that yhwh spoke unto my father, yes, even in a dream, and said unto him, Blessed are you Lechi because of the things which you have done. And because you have been faithful and declared unto this people the things which I commanded you, behold, they seek to take away your life. And it came to pass that yhwh commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness. And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of yhwh; wherefore, he did as yhwh commanded him.
  7. And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him except it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and he departed into the wilderness. And he came down by the Borders near the shore of the Red Sea, and he traveled in the wilderness in the Borders which were nearer the Red Sea. And he did travel in the wilderness with his family, which consisted of my mother, Saryah, and my elder brothers, who were Laman, L’mu’el, and Sam. And it came to pass that when he had traveled three days in the wilderness, he pitched his tent in a valley by the side of a river of water.
  8. And it came to pass that he built an altar of stones,14 and he made an offering unto yhwh, and gave thanks unto yhwh our Elohim. And it came to pass that he called the name of the river Laman, and it emptied into the Red Sea; and the valley was in the Borders near the mouth thereof. And when my father saw that the waters of the river emptied into the fountain of the Red Sea, he spoke unto Laman, saying, Oh that you might be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness. And he also spoke unto L’mu’el, saying, Oh that you might be like unto this valley, firm, and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the mitzvot of yhwh. Now this he spoke because of the stiffneckedness of Laman and L’mu’el;15 for behold, they did murmur in many things against their father because that he was a visionary man and that he had led them out of the land of Yerushalayim, to leave the land of their inheritance, and their gold, and their silver, and their precious things, and to perish in the wilderness. And this they said that he had done because of the foolish imaginations of his heart. And thus Laman and L’mu’el, being the eldest, did murmur against their father. And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that Elohim who had created them. Neither did they believe that Yerushalayim, that great city, could be destroyed according to the words of the prophets. And they were like unto the Judeans who were at Yerushalayim, who sought to take away the life of my father. And it came to pass that my father did speak unto them in the valley of L’mu’el with power, being filled with the spirit, until their frames did shake before him. And he did confound them that they dared not utter against him; wherefore, they did do as he commanded them. And my father dwelt in a tent.
  9. And it came to pass that I, Nefi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless, being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of Elohim, wherefore I cried unto yhwh. And behold, he did visit me and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers. And I spoke unto Sam, making known unto him the things which yhwh had manifested unto me by his Holy Spirit. And it came to pass that he believed in my words. But behold, Laman and L’mu’el would not hearken unto my words. And being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts, I cried unto yhwh for them. And it came to pass that yhwh spoke unto me, saying, Blessed are you, Nefi, because of your faith, for you have sought me diligently with humility of heart. And inasmuch as you shall keep my mitzvot, you shall prosper and shall be led to a land of promise, yes, even a land which I have prepared for you, a land which is choice above all other lands.16 And inasmuch as your brothers shall rebel against you, they shall be cut off17 from the presence of yhwh. And inasmuch as you shall keep my mitzvot, you shall be made a ruler and a teacher over your brothers. For behold, in that day that they shall rebel against me, I will curse them even with a sore curse, and they shall have no power over your seed except they shall rebel against me also. And if it so be that they rebel against me, they shall be a scourge unto your seed to stir them up in the ways of remembrance.
  10. And it came to pass that I, Nefi, returned from speaking with yhwh, to the tent of my father. And it came to pass that he spoke unto me, saying, Behold, I have dreamed a dream18 in the which yhwh has commanded me that you and your brothers shall return to Yerushalayim. For behold, Lavan has the record of the Y’hudim and also a genealogy19 of your forefathers, and they are engraved upon plates of brass. Wherefore, yhwh has commanded me that you and your brothers should go unto the house of Lavan and seek the records and bring them down here into the wilderness. And now behold, your brothers murmur, saying it is a hard thing which I have required of them; but behold, I have not required it of them, but it is a mitzvah of yhwh. Therefore go, my son, and you shall be favored of yhwh because you have not murmured. And it came to pass that I, Nefi, said unto my father, I will go and do the things which yhwh has commanded, for I know that yhwh gives no mitzvot unto the children of men except he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commands them. And it came to pass that when my father had heard these words he was exceedingly glad, for he knew that I had been blessed of yhwh.
  11. And I, Nefi, and my brothers took our journey in the wilderness with our tents to go up20 to the land of Yerushalayim. And it came to pass that when we had gone up to the land of Yerushalayim, I and my brothers did consult one with another. And we cast lots — who of us should go in unto the house of Lavan. And it came to pass that the lot fell upon Laman. And Laman went in unto the house of Lavan, and he talked with him as he sat in his house.21 And he desired of Lavan the records which were engraved upon the plates of brass, which contained the genealogy of my father. And behold, it came to pass that Lavan was angry and thrust him out from his presence, and he would not that he should have the records. Wherefore, he said unto him, Behold, you are a robber and I will slay you. But Laman fled out of his presence and told the things which Lavan had done unto us. And we began to be exceedingly sorrowful, and my brothers were about to return unto my father in the wilderness.
  12. But behold, I said unto them that as yhwh lives and as we live, we will not go down22 unto our father in the wilderness until we have accomplished the thing which yhwh has commanded us. Wherefore, let us be faithful in keeping the mitzvot of yhwh. Therefore, let us go down to the land of our father’s inheritance, for behold, he left gold and silver and all manner of riches. And all this he has done because of the mitzvot of yhwh. For he knew that Yerushalayim must be destroyed because of the wickedness of the people. For behold, they have rejected the words of the prophets. Wherefore, if my father should dwell in the land after he has been commanded to flee out of the land, behold, he would also perish; wherefore, it must necessarily be that he flee out of the land. And behold, it is wisdom in Elohim that we should obtain these records that we may preserve unto our children the language of our fathers, and also that we may preserve unto them the words which have been spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets, which have been delivered unto them by the spirit and power of Elohim since the world began, even down unto this present time. And it came to pass that after this manner of language did I persuade my brothers that they might be faithful in keeping the mitzvot of Elohim.
  13. And it came to pass that we went down to the land of our inheritance, and we did gather together our gold, and our silver, and our precious things. And after we had gathered these things together we went up again unto the house of Lavan. And it came to pass that we went in unto Lavan and desired him that he would give unto us the records which were engraved upon the plates of brass, for which we would give unto him our gold, and our silver, and all our precious things. And it came to pass that when Lavan saw our property, that it was exceedingly great, he did lust after it, insomuch that he thrust us out and sent his servants to slay us that he might obtain our property. And it came to pass that we did flee before the servants of Lavan, and we were obliged to leave behind our property, and it fell into the hands of Lavan.
  14. And it came to pass that we fled into the wilderness, and the servants of Lavan did not overtake us, and we hid ourselves in the cavity of a rock. And it came to pass that Laman was angry with me and also with my father — and also was L’mu’el, for he hearkened unto the words of Laman — wherefore, Laman and L’mu’el did speak many hard words unto us, their younger brothers, and they did strike us even with a rod. And it came to pass as they did strike us with a rod, behold, an angel of yhwh came and stood before them, and he spoke unto them, saying, Why do you strike your younger brother with a rod? Do you not know that yhwh has chosen him to be a ruler over you, and this because of your iniquities? Behold, you shall go up to Yerushalayim again, and yhwh will deliver Lavan into your hands. And after the angel had spoken unto us, he departed. And after the angel had departed, Laman and L’mu’el again began to murmur, saying, How is it possible that yhwh will deliver Lavan into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man and he can command fifty, yes, even he can slay fifty, then why not us?23
  15. And it came to pass that I spoke unto my brothers, saying, Let us go up again unto Yerushalayim, and let us be faithful in keeping the mitzvot of yhwh. For behold, he is mightier than all the earth, then why not mightier than Lavan and his fifty? Yes, or even than his tens of thousands?24 Therefore, let us go up. Let us be strong like unto Moshe, for he truly spoke unto the waters of the Red Sea and they divided hither and thither and our fathers came through out of captivity on dry ground,25 and the armies of Pharaoh did follow and were drowned in the waters of the Red Sea. Now behold, you know that this is true; and you also know that an angel has spoken unto you. Wherefore, can you doubt? Let us go up. yhwh is able to deliver us, even as our fathers, and to destroy Lavan, even as the Egyptians.
  16. Now when I had spoken these words, they were yet angry and did still continue to murmur; nevertheless, they did follow me up until we came without the walls of Yerushalayim. And it was by night, and I caused that they should hide themselves without the walls. And after they had hidden themselves, I, Nefi, crept into the city and went forth towards the house of Lavan. And I was led by the spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. Nevertheless, I went forth. And as I came near unto the house of Lavan I beheld a man, and he had fallen to the earth before me, for he was drunken with wine. And when I came to him, I found that it was Lavan, and beheld his sword, and I drew it forth from the sheath thereof. And the hilt thereof was of pure gold, and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine, and I saw that the blade thereof was of the most precious steel.
  17. And it came to pass that I was constrained by the spirit that I should kill Lavan, but I said in my heart, Never at any time have I shed the blood of man. And I shrunk and would that I might not slay him. And the spirit said unto me again, Behold, yhwh has delivered him into your hands. Yes, and I also knew that he had sought to take away my own life. Yes, and he would not hearken unto the mitzvot of yhwh; and he also had taken away our property. And it came to pass that the spirit said unto me again, Slay him, for yhwh has delivered him into your hands. Behold, yhwh slays the wicked26 to bring forth his righteous purposes. It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief. And now when I, Nefi, had heard these words, I remembered the words of yhwh which he spoke unto me in the wilderness, saying that inasmuch as your seed shall keep my mitzvot, they shall prosper in the land of promise. Yes, and I also thought that they could not keep the mitzvot of yhwh according to the Torah of Moshe except they should have the Torah. And I also knew that the Torah was engraved upon the plates of brass. And again, I knew that yhwh had delivered Lavan into my hands for this cause, that I might obtain the records according to his mitzvot. Therefore, I did obey the voice of the spirit and took Lavan by the hair of the head, and I smote off his head with his own sword.
  18. And after I had struck off his head with his own sword, I took the garments of Lavan and put them upon my own body, yes, even every whit; and I did gird on his armor about my loins. And after I had done this, I went forth unto the genizah27 of Lavan. And as I went forth towards the genizah of Lavan, behold, I saw the servant of Lavan who had the keys of the genizah. And I commanded him in the voice of Lavan that he should go with me into the genizah. And he supposing me to be his master Lavan, for he beheld the garments and also the sword girded about my loins, and he spoke unto me concerning the elders of the Y’hudim, he knowing that his master Lavan had been out by night among them. And I spoke unto him as if it had been Lavan. And I also spoke unto him that I should carry the engravings which were upon the plates of brass to my elder brothers, who were without the walls. And I also directed him that he should follow me. And he supposing that I spoke of the brothers of the assembly28 and that I was truly that Lavan whom I had slain, wherefore he did follow me. And he spoke unto me many times concerning the elders of the Y’hudim as I went forth unto my brothers, who were without the walls.
  19. And it came to pass that when Laman saw me, he was exceedingly frightened, and also L’mu’el and Sam. And they fled from before my presence, for they supposed it was Lavan and that he had slain me and had sought to take away their lives also. 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 Lavan beheld my brothers, he began to tremble and was about to flee from before me and return to the city of Yerushalayim. And now I, Nefi, being a man large in stature, and also having received much strength of yhwh, therefore I did seize upon the servant of Lavan and held him that he should not flee.
  20. And it came to pass that I spoke with him, that if he would hearken unto my words, as yhwh lives and as I live, even so that if he would hearken unto our words, we would spare his life. And I spoke 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 spoke unto him, saying, Surely yhwh has commanded us to do this thing. And shall we not be diligent in keeping the mitzvah of yhwh? Therefore, if you will go down in the wilderness to my father, you shall have place with us. And it came to pass that Tzuram did take courage at the words which I spoke. Now Tzuram29 was the name of the servant, and he promised that he would go down into the wilderness unto our father; yes, and he also made an oath unto us that he would remain with us from that time forth. Now we were desirous that he should remain with us for this cause: that the Y’hudim might not know concerning our flight into the wilderness, for fear that they should pursue us and destroy us. And it came to pass that when Tzuram 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 Lavan and departed into the wilderness and journeyed unto the tent of our father.
  21. And it came to pass that after we had come down into the wilderness unto our father, behold, he was filled with joy. And also my mother Saryah30 was exceedingly glad, for she truly had mourned because of us, for she had supposed that we had perished in the wilderness. And she also had complained against my father, telling him that he was a visionary man, saying, Behold, you have led us forth from the land of our inheritance, and my sons are no more, and we perish in the wilderness. And after this manner of language had my mother complained against my father. And it had come to pass that my father spoke unto her, saying, I know that I am a visionary man, for if I had not seen the things of Elohim in a vision, I should not have known the goodness of Elohim, but had remained at Yerushalayim and had perished with my brothers. But behold, I have obtained a land of promise,31 in the which things I do rejoice. Yes, and I know that yhwh will deliver my sons out of the hands of Lavan and bring them down again unto us in the wilderness. And after this manner of language did my father Lechi comfort my mother Saryah concerning us while we journeyed in the wilderness up to the land of Yerushalayim to obtain the record of the Y’hudim. And when we had returned to the tent of my father, behold, their joy was full, and my mother was comforted. And she spoke, saying, Now I know of a surety that yhwh has commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; yes, and I also know of a surety that yhwh has protected my sons and delivered them out of the hands of Lavan and given them power by which they could accomplish the thing which yhwh has commanded them. And after this manner of language did she speak.
  22. And it came to pass that they did rejoice exceedingly and did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto yhwh, and they gave thanks unto the Elohim of Isra’el. And after they had given thanks unto the Elohim of Isra’el, my father Lechi took the records which were engraved upon the plates of brass and he did search them from the beginning. And he beheld that they did contain the five books of Moshe, which gave an account of the creation of the world and also of Adam and Havah who were our first parents, and also a record of the Y’hudim from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Tzidkiyahu, king of Y’hudah, and also the prophecies of the holy prophets from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Tzidkiyahu, and also many prophecies which have been spoken by the mouth of Yirmeyahu.32 And it came to pass that my father Lechi also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore, he knew that he was a descendant of Yosef, yes, even that Yosef who was the son of Ya’akov, who was sold into Egypt and who was preserved by the hand of yhwh that he might preserve his father Ya’akov and all his household from perishing with famine. And they were also led out of captivity and out of the land of Egypt by that same Elohim who had preserved them. And thus my father Lechi did discover the genealogy of his fathers. And Lavan also was a descendant of Yosef; wherefore, he and his fathers had kept the records. And now when my father saw all these things, he was filled with the spirit and began to prophesy concerning his seed — that these plates of brass should go forth unto all nations, kindreds, and tongues, and people, who were of his seed. Wherefore, he said that these plates of brass should never perish; neither should they be dimmed anymore by time. And he prophesied many things concerning his seed.
  23. And it came to pass that thus far I and my father had kept the mitzvot with which yhwh had commanded us. And we had obtained the record which yhwh had commanded us and searched them and found that they were desirable, yes, even of great worth unto us, insomuch that we could preserve the mitzvot of yhwh unto our children. Wherefore, it was wisdom in yhwh that we should carry them with us as we journeyed in the wilderness toward the land of promise.