Old Testament views on the Messiah

In his posts on the ancient Holy Order, Lord Wilmore has argued that scriptures containing prophecies of Christ were altered by Jews who did not accept him as Messiah. This is an interesting topic and there are several clues in the Book of Mormon suggesting that disagreement on the Messiah and the purpose of the Law of Moses go way back and also extend into the New World with the Nephites.

Already in the first chapter, Lehi is called a prophet and starts proclaiming the Messiah

19 And it came to pass that the Jews 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 Messiah, and also the redemption of the world.

20 And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, 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

Of course the Jews were angry because he testified of their wickedness and their abominations. But why would testifying of the coming of a Messiah anger them? One reason may be that Lehi talked about the "redemption of the world". The idea of a global redemption was not yet unanimous in Judaism at the time. Many thought that only Israel would be redeemed and the other nations would serve them. What Lehi said may have been provoking to some and their reaction shows that there was already controversy and disagreement among different groups of Jews regarding the Messiah. 

Another example is found in Alma 33:17 when Alma is referring to Zenock.

And now, my brethren, ye see that a second prophet of old has testified of the Son of God, and because the people would not understand his words they stoned him to death

 We see this same trend among Book of Mormon people. This is Sherem in Jacob 7:7

And ye have led away much of this people that they pervert the right way of God, and keep not the law of Moses which is the right way; and convert the law of Moses into the worship of a being which ye say shall come many hundred years hence. And now behold, I, Sherem, declare unto you that this is blasphemy

Another example is King Noah and his priests

And they [King Noah's priests] said: We teach the law of Moses. (Mosiah 12:28)

And they [King Noah's priests] answered and said that salvation did come by the law of Moses. (Mosiah 12:32)

(Abinadi speaking) were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses. (Mosiah 13:28) 

Abinadi, we have found an accusation against thee, and thou art worthy of death. For thou hast said that God himself should come down among the children of men (Mosiah 17:7-8)

I'm not trying to say that Deuteronomists were just as bad as King Noah and his priests. King Noah and his priests didn't even practice what they said they were preaching. Others were very concerned with keeping the Law of Moses. But we see a trend both among Jews and Nephites, that Abinadi sums up beautifully in Mosiah 13:

29 And now I say unto you that it was expedient that there should be a law given to the children of Israel, yea, even a very strict law; for they were a stiffnecked people, quick to do iniquity, and slow to remember the Lord their God;

30 Therefore there was a law given them, yea, a law of performances and of ordinances, a law which they were to observe strictly from day to day, to keep them in remembrance of God and their duty towards him.

31 But behold, I say unto you, that all these things were types of things to come.

32 And now, did they understand the law? I say unto you, Nay, they did not all understand the law; and this because of the hardness of their hearts; for they understood not that there could not any man be saved except it were through the redemption of God.

33 For behold, did not Moses prophesy unto them concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem his people? Yea, and even all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began—have they not spoken more or less concerning these things?

Reading the Old Testament, I'm not sure I can see clearly that "all the prophets" have spoken concerning the Messiah. Abinadi, who didn't have the Old Testament but rather the brass plates, had a different impression. It seems that those who were outspoken about the coming of Christ often risked their lives. It also seems that their message had to be subtle or hidden in symbolism to "survive" later redaction.