This is a very interesting chapter.

After reviewing the partial parallel arrangements of others, I conducted an in-depth examination elsewhere in the chapter and when I saw at the top and the bottom the structure of I remember, covenants,  and the chiasmus structure of which are of the house of Israel and words at both the top and bottom, I then thought there may be a larger structure to the chapter.

The words the isles of the sea formed a centering point and I began to look inward from there. The central chiasmus structure from E to E’ is my own arrangement as well as the form in the D section.

What I really like about this chapter is that a main message becomes apparent when examining the structure and the blending of the concepts of the Lord’s work and the concept that He remembers his covenant people and also all nations. (note how these words are related in the top, bottom, and middle of the chiasmus as well as several of the smaller structures.)

Previous to this analysis I had thought that some of the wording in this chapter was odd and also that writing something that mentions the Bible would be something that a charlatan might do try to lend support to a forgery.  I had once read that someone thought calling someone fools was odd language for the Lord. Also, the use of the name Bible is interesting as I believe it’s a Greek word (biblion meaning books). The word Bible only occurs in this chapter in the entire B of M.

After really analyzing this chapter and noting all of the structural detail contained that is in agreement with ancient Hebrew parallel style, the thought that Joseph Smith just made this chapter up off the cuff becomes a much smaller possibility and thus this helps to re-in force faith.

Also note the instance of Sidel’s law in verse 1 where Nephi inverts the order of how these three Isaiah verses appear.

Isaiah 5 26 And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly:

Isaiah 11:11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

Isaiah 29:14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

2 Nephi 29

A) 1 But behold, there shall be many—at that day when I shall proceed to do a marvelous work among them, that I may remember

B) a) my covenants

b) which I have made unto the children of men,    (Abraham complementary)

C) that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my people,

a) which are of the house of Israel;

y) 2 And also, that I may remember

z) the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi,

z) and also unto thy father,

y) that I would remember your seed;

b) and that the words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed; (chiasmus)

b’) and my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people,

a’) which are of the house of Israel;

D) 3. And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: (Gentiles vs {Jews, Nephites, lost tribes of Israel} (antithetical))

E) A Bible!

A1) A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.

B1) 4. But thus saith the Lord God: O fools,

they shall have a Bible;

and it shall proceed forth from the Jews,

C1) mine ancient covenant people.

And what thank they the Jews for

the Bible which they receive from them?

Yea, what do the Gentiles mean?  (chiasmus)

D1) a) 6) Do they remember

the travails,

and the labors,

and the pains

b) of the Jews, and their diligence unto me,

E1) in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles?

E1) 5) 5. O ye Gentiles,  

D1’) a) have ye remembered

b) 1) the Jews, 

C1’) mine ancient covenant people?

Nay; but ye have cursed them,

and have hated them,

and have not sought to recover them.

But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads;

for I the Lord have not forgotten

my people.

B1’) 6. Thou fool, that shall say:

A1’) A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained

E) a) 4) a Bible save it were by the Jews?  (the words below complementary) (extended alternate parallelism a, b, c)

b) 7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one? (them complementary)

c) Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember (Jews, Nephites, Israel, all nations (complementary)

F) those who are upon the isles of the sea;

G) and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; (directions (complementary)

H) and I bring forth my word unto the children of men,

I) a) yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?  (many complementary) (extended alternate parallelism a, b, c)

b) 8 Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word?

c) y) Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God,

z) that I remember one nation like unto another?  (chiasmus)

z’) Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another.

y’) And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.

I’) a) 9 And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever;

b) and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure

and because that I have spoken one word

ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another;

c) x) for my work is not yet finished;

y) neither shall it be until the end of man,

z) neither from that time henceforth and forever. (staircase parallelism)

H’) 10 Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words;

neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.

G’) 11 For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, (complementary)

F’) and in the islands of the sea,

E’) a) that they shall write the words

         b) which I speak unto them;

u) for out of the books which shall be written

v) I will judge the world,    (chiasmus)

v’) every man according to their works,

u’) according to that which is written.

c) 12 For behold,

w) I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it;

x) and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it;

y) and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it;

z) and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it.     (staircase parallelism)

D’) 13 And it shall come to pass

a) that the Jews

b) shall have the words of

c) the Nephites, and   (chiasmus)

c’) the Nephites

b’) shall have the words of

a’) the Jews;

d) and the Nephites and the Jews

e) shall have the words of

f) the lost tribes of Israel;    (chiasmus)

f’) and the lost tribes of Israel

e’) shall have the words of

d’) the Nephites and the Jews.

C’) 14 And it shall come to pass that my people,

a) which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions;

b) and my word also shall be gathered in one.       (chiasmus)

b’) And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people,

a’) who are of the house of Israel, that I am God,

B’) a) and that I covenanted

b) with Abraham that

A’) I would remember his seed forever.