1 Nephi 16:33-37

In verse 33, our traveling family picks up their tents and supplies and begins to journey in the wilderness for the space of a time. Nephi says many days. It is interesting to note that he did not mention a specific number of days. I imagine that they kept a record. Perhaps this is one of those things that is on the Large Plates of Nephi and not the small ones. Even though I had this thought, it is obvious that the point is what comes in between these journeys as they rest. This is where it seems that they have the most spiritual experiences and time to talk about them. Remember that the small plates are a more spiritual record and that what is recorded here is pleasing to Nephi and the Lord.

Nephi then shares with us that Ishmael dies. It seems that we do not have much knowledge about Ishmael, but that he was good enough to go on this expedition, and did not side with the crew that always complains, parts of his family included. Well, this is a major event, and guess what happens when something as bad as this occurs in their expedition. It is interesting, although not surprising, that Nephi shares with us that it was the daughters of Ishmael who mourned exceedingly at the loss of their father. They must have loved their father very much, just like daughters generally do. However, I thought that it was surprising that they began to complain against Lehi for dragging them out to this awful place where they've suffered hunger, thirst, and fatigue. It seems that from a subsequent verse, that they are again out of food. The daughters of Ishmael are fearing that they will perish in the wilderness with hunger. They murmured against Lehi and Nephi and said that they wanted to go back to Jerusalem (even though it was about to be destroyed and that they would have to trek all the way back through the wilderness to do it.) It is interesting to think about if the wives of Nephi and Sam were in that mix. I'm sure that they were very sad that their father died, but were they in the complaining group to Lehi and Nephi? Nephi doesn't specifically exclude them, so it is possible that they were in that group. Perhaps they needed to learn a few things about having faith in the Lord (especially when things get rough) and that He will fulfill His promises.

Of course, Laman and Lemuel pick up on this. Additionally, the sons of Ishmael, who have been so-so also up to this point, are now with Laman and Lemuel. They want to slay Lehi, their father and Nephi, their brother. They didn't say maim or beat up, they said kill. How sad is that? They even feel that Nephi wants to be a ruler over them. Well, tomorrow we shall see more into their thinking.