In the Book of Deuteronomy, when the Israelites are about to enter into the promised land, they are admonished over and over to keep the judgments, statutes and commandments of the Lord. They are informed about the blessings that await if they do and warned about the curses that inevitably follow if they don't. This passage is particularly well-known
4 , O Israel: The Lord our God is Lord:
5 And thou shalt the Lord thy God with all thine , and with all thy soul, and with all thy .
6 And these , which I command thee this day, shall be in thine :
7 And thou shalt them diligently unto thy children, and shalt of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8 And thou shalt them for a upon thine hand, and they shall be as between thine eyes.
9 And thou shalt write them upon the of thy house, and on thy gates. (Deuteronomy 6)
The Savior quotes verse 5 when he answers the famous question about the greatest commandment. But I wanted to focus on verse 7 about teaching the children. The NRSV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible comments on this verse:
The inculcation of moral principles and wisdom in youth was practiced widely in the ancient Near East. In Egypt, teaching and instruction were used from at least 2500 BC up until the time of the Ptolemies (c. 300 BC). Rules of conduct and learning were prepared for sons. From moral issues to royal protocol, children were trained in the home or in the king’s palace. Order, truth and justice were important. In Mesopotamia, Sumerian literature includes the advice of a father to his son. Several famous works of a didactic nature come from Mesopotamia. Repetition by mouth, copying texts and strict discipline (the rod!) were the main pedagogical means of “impressing” a desired curriculum on a student or child. This was done both in the home and in any place of learning available. Covenantal conditions and stipulations were passed on so that following generations would know and pursue them diligently
This is not the first time I read about ancient Israelite customs and see how well the Book of Mormon fits into that cultural framework. Especially the bolded parts are easily recognized in several Book of Mormon passages. Here are some examples:
Lehi's teachings to his sons
This is perhaps the best example of Near Eastern fatherly inculcation in the Book of Mormon. There are too many examples to go through in detail, but despite mixed outcomes, Lehi is quite clear about his objectives.
28 And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great , and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;
29 And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to , to bring you down to , that he may reign over you in his own kingdom.
30 I have spoken these few words unto you all, my sons, in the last days of my probation; and I have chosen the good part, according to the words of the prophet. And I have none other object save it be the everlasting of your souls. Amen. (Nephi 1-4)
The way of life and the way of death is the essence of Deuteronomy and this is what Lehi lays out in this chapter. "I have none other object save it be the everlasting welfare of your souls" is really strong language. All of 2 Nephi 1-3 and some of chapter 4 is Lehi's "advice of a father to his son" with "covenantal conditions and stipulations...passed on so that the following generations would know and pursue them diligently"
5 But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a , a land which is above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be out of other countries by the hand of the Lord. (2 Nephi 1)
3 Wherefore, after my father had made an end of speaking concerning the prophecies of Joseph, he called the children of Laman, his sons, and his daughters, and said unto them: Behold, my sons, and my daughters, who are the sons and the daughters of my , I would that ye should give ear unto my words.
4 For the Lord God hath said that: as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence.
5 But behold, my sons and my daughters, I cannot go down to my grave save I should leave a upon you; for behold, I know that if ye are in the ye should go ye will not depart from it.
6 Wherefore, if ye are , behold, I leave my blessing upon you, that the may be taken from you and be answered upon the of your parents.
7 Wherefore, because of my blessing the Lord God will suffer that ye shall perish; wherefore, he will be unto you and unto your seed forever. (2 Nephi 4)
We could go on but this sample is sufficient to illustrate the point.
King Benjamin's teachings to his sons
This account is much briefer but sufficient to see the ancient Near Eastern cultural heritage
2 And it came to pass that he had three ; and he called their names Mosiah, and Helorum, and Helaman. And he caused that they should be in all the of his fathers, that thereby they might become men of understanding; and that they might know concerning the prophecies which had been spoken by the mouths of their fathers, which were delivered them by the hand of the Lord.
3 And he also taught them concerning the records which were engraven on the , saying: My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these , which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in , even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God.
4 For it were not possible that our father, Lehi, could have remembered all these things, to have taught them to his children, except it were for the help of these plates; for he having been taught in the of the Egyptians therefore he could read these engravings, and teach them to his children, that thereby they could teach them to their children, and so fulfilling the commandments of God, even down to this present time.
7 And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to them diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should the commandments of God, that ye may in the land according to the which the Lord made unto our fathers.
8 And many more things did king Benjamin teach his sons, which are not written in this book.
Apparently, this account is very abbreviated, and King Benjamin taught his sons "many more things". In verse 4, King Benjamin seems to refer to Deuteronomy 6:7, probably among other things, where the commandment to teach the word of God to your children is given.
Alma-II to his sons
13 O remember, remember, my son Helaman, how are the commandments of God. And he said: ye will keep my commandments ye shall in the land—but if ye keep not his commandments ye shall be cut off from his presence...
17 For he will fulfil all his which he shall make unto you, for he has fulfilled his promises which he has made unto our fathers...
20 Therefore I command you, my son Helaman, that ye be diligent in fulfilling all my words, and that ye be diligent in keeping the commandments of God as they are written....
35 O, remember, my son, and in thy ; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God. (Alma 37)
The bold parts are directly linked to the quoted description of the ancient Israelite practice of fathers teaching their sons.