1 Nephi 2

1 Nephi 2

1 Nephi 2:  1-3

Blessed ..............in harmony with God's will
Commanded in a dream........................revelation that warns him
obedient, wherefore.......................the evidence of obedience was compliance

Lehi recognizes a message from God, and he responds to it.

1 Nephi 2:  4-10

takes nothing with him save................he deliberately abandons everything except what he needs to travel in the desert
with his family..............he takes his immediate family with him
river of water..............some Middle Eastern rivers are dry.  This one has water
alter, prayer......................he constructs a place to offer up sacrifice
river Laman..........................uses the river to teach a son
valley Lemuel.....................teaches another son

Beginning the journey.  This father uses the river and valley to teach lessons to two of his sons.  We learn they are troublesome throughout the narrative, and this is known from the beginning.

1 Nephi 2: 11-13

stiffnecked.............................one proud and unwilling to change
murmur.............................vocal complaining
visionary man....................................."too" idealistic
foolish imaginations.....................................believing in delusions
knew not the dealings...................................do not understand spiritual manifestations
like the Jews who tried to destroy their father....................... their thinking and complaints were similar to the inhabitants of Jerusalem

This commentary gives the reader a look into the attitudes of Lehi's two oldest sons, Laman and Lemuel.  They seem to work in tandem, crossing him together and mirroring the very attitudes of the wicked Jews that Lehi left behind.  Their greatest complaint strikes at Lehi's spirituality because it deprives them of worldly things.

1 Nephi 2: 14-18

spoke with power...............................Lehi has the gift of speaking and it is accompanied with spirtual witness
their frames did shake.........................idiomatic, they were moved deeply
confound them.....................................they had no effective arguments
dwelt in a tent..........................................assumed leadership in a nomad lifestyle
large in stature........................................Nephi is unusually large for his age
desires to know the mysteries of God.............................actively seeks to understand the religion
cry to the Lord.....................................he prays
soften my heart..................................idiomatic, Nephi is being converted, gaining a witness
believed the words of his father.......................Nephi accepts the teachings of Lehi
manifested........................................Nephi teaches what he has learned to Sam, his brother
hardness of heart..............................unwilling and resistant to conversion and accepting

This section illustrates the differences between those who gain testimonies or witnesses and those who don't.  It works with the idiom of hardening or softening of the heart.  Nephi's conviction works with Sam but not with Laman or Lemuel.

1 Nephi 2: 19-

sought me diligently.........................the Lord accepts those who seek for him
lowliness of heart............................humbly
shall prosper..................................the Lord will bless abundantly
land of promise..............................you are going to receive a place to live in  and establish
choice above all others.............................this land is unusually productive
cut off......................................Lord will reject and cease to assist
ruler and teacher.............................Nephi will have a role of teaching and governing them
curse them................................rebellion will lead to a judgement against them
no power to overcome except for rebellion.........................blessings do not come to any who rebel
serve as a scourge.......................the children will be used as a tool to keep Nephi's children in line

Nephi receives a direct promise and mission from the Lord, and it will even extend well into the future and affect his children

The second chapter of Nephi shows that the Lord gives the vision to his servant Lehi, but also his faithful son Nephi.  This duality of witness will take much of the burden from Lehi's mind and prepare Nephi to assume authority after the death of his father.  The chapter explains how important prayer and attitude are for the development of spiritual strength.