Monday, December 30, 2019

Passover in Alma 36-42 and 1 Nephi 17

This article points out that Alma's admonitions to his sons fits into a Jewish Passover Seder setting. The Passover Seder is held on the night before the 7 day Passover holiday to mark its beginning. In addition to what the article says, Bradley J. Kramer also points out that Alma even uses food imagery consistent with the Seder meal
Yea, and now behold, O my son, the Lord doth give me exceedingly great joy in the fruit of my labors; For because of the word which he has imparted unto me, behold, many have been born of God, and have tasted as I have tasted (Alma 36:25-26)
Gale Boyd notes another such setting in 1 Nephi 17. The first night of the holiday includes the recitation of the story about the Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt, which of course is the centerpiece for the whole celebration. Interestingly, there are two part of this recitation: First, the story of deliverance and redemption, second a prayer that all people may be free from oppression. In 1 Nephi 17, Nephi launched into the Passover recitation, including both parts! God saves the Israelites, but is no respecter of persons.

23 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, spake unto them, saying: Do ye believe that our fathers, who were the children of Israel, would have been led away out of the hands of the Egyptians if they had not hearkened unto the words of the Lord?
24 Yea, do ye suppose that they would have been led out of bondage, if the Lord had not commanded Moses that he should lead them out of bondage?
25 Now ye know that the children of Israel were in bondage; and ye know that they were laden with tasks, which were grievous to be borne; wherefore, ye know that it must needs be a good thing for them, that they should be brought out of bondage.
26 Now ye know that Moses was commanded of the Lord to do that great work; and ye know that by his word the waters of the Red Sea were divided hither and thither, and they passed through on dry ground.
27 But ye know that the Egyptians were drowned in the Red Sea, who were the armies of Pharaoh...
33 And now, do ye suppose that the children of this land, who were in the land of promise, who were driven out by our fathers, do ye suppose that they were righteous? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.
34 Do ye suppose that our fathers would have been more choice than they if they had been righteous? I say unto you, Nay.
35 Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God. But behold, this people had rejected every word of God, and they were ripe in iniquity; and the fulness of the wrath of God was upon them; and the Lord did curse the land against them, and bless it unto our fathers; yea, he did curse it against them unto their destruction, and he did bless it unto our fathers unto their obtaining power over it.
36 Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it.
37 And he raiseth up a righteous nation, and destroyeth the nations of the wicked.
38 And he leadeth away the righteous into precious lands, and the wicked he destroyeth, and curseth the land unto them for their sakes.
The quote in 1 Nephi 17 does not necessarily mean that it was Passover at the time when Nephi was arguing with his brothers about building a ship. Even though it is formalized on the first evening of Passover, at least believing Jews today will cite the Exodus whenever encouragement is needed, whether it is Passover or not.

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