Nowhere is
Nephi’s literary skill more clearly on display than in the expansive chiastic
structure of the entire book of 1 Nephi. John W. Welch has explained that both
1 and 2 Nephi “are independent chiastic units, centrally focused and
symmetrically organized,”11 but 1 Nephi is the more elaborate of the two. In 1 Nephi,
“almost every element in the first half of the book” has “a specific
counterpart in the second half.”12 Lehi’s and Nephi’s visions of the tree of life form “the
central section of the book,”13 with Nephi’s encounter with the Spirt marking the very
center.
Recognizing
the book-length chiastic patterns in the Book of Mormon helps explain some of
the more unusual features of the book’s organization.14 In the case of 1 and 2 Nephi, it “explains why Nephi
divided his writings into two books.”15 Since Nephi was making a political argument in his small
plates record,16 the placement of his vision at the very center would
suggest that “experiencing the same vision as his father Lehi … [was] the
decisive factor which in Nephi’s mind ultimately established him as the
successor to his father.”17
Chiastic Structure Of 1
Nephi
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A |
Lehi prophesies warnings
of destruction to the Jews and foresees the mercy of God (Chapter 1) |
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B |
Lehi’s
group departs from Jerusalem (2:2–15) |
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C |
Nephi
establishes himself over his brothers by obtaining the Plates of Brass
(2:16–4:38) |
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D |
The
sword of fine steel (4:9) |
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E |
Sariah’s
concern (5:1–9) |
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F |
The
Plates of Brass as a guide (5:10–6:6) |
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G |
The
sons of Lehi get the daughters of Ishmael and Ishmael joins
the group (7:1–5, 22) |
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H |
Nephi bound
with cords in the wilderness (7:6–21) |
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I |
Lehi’s
vision of the Tree of Life (8:1–38) |
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J |
Lehi
prophesies about the Old World and about the coming of the Lamb (10:1–22) |
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K |
Nephi
and the Spirit of the Lord (11:1–36) |
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J |
Nephi
prophesies about the New World and the coming of the Lamb (12:1–14:30) |
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I |
Lehi’s
vision of the Tree of Life interpreted (15:1–36) |
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G |
The
sons of Lehi marry the daughters of Ishmael and Ishmael dies
(16:1–8, 34–35) |
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F |
The Brass Ball
as a guide (16:9–17, 26–33) |
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D |
The bow
of fine steel (16:18) |
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C |
Nephi
establishes himself over his brothers by building a ship (17:1–18:4) (3:7;
cf. 17:3) |
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H |
Nephi bound
with cords on the ship (18:11–16, 20–21) |
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E |
Sariah’s
afflictions (18:17–19) |
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B |
Lehi’s
group arrives at the Promised Land (18:23–25) |
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A |
Nephi prophesies concerning
the fate of the Jews and concerning the mercy of the Lord unto the afflicted
(chapters 19–22) |
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