1 Nephi 17:42-43

Before we begin with verse 42, we look at the Book of Mormon Institute Manual at this point in our reading. It has an entry thus:

1 Nephi 17:23–34. The Miracles of the Exodus

“The so-called higher critics of the Bible have raised the question as to whether or not the miracles of the exodus of Israel under Moses actually happened as they are recorded in the Old Testament. (See Exodus 14:19–20, 26–31; 16:4, 15; 17:5–6; Numbers 21:6–9.) However, the Book of Mormon substantiates the actuality of these miraculous events. (1 Nephi 17:23, 26, 28, 29, 30, 41.) Inasmuch as Nephi’s knowledge of these miracles came from the authentic account on the brass plates of Laban (1 Nephi 5:11), Latter-day Saints should have no question concerning the reliability of the biblical account. Once again the Book of Mormon serves as a witness to its companion scripture, the Bible” (Daniel H. Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon, p. 115).
Nephi seems to see in his experiences a type or parallel of the wanderings of Israel in the wilderness (see 1 Nephi 17:13, 23, 30, 41–42).

Verse 42 has an interesting point to me. Nephi shares that the Israelites, as they were led in the wilderness, hardened their hearts from time to time and reviled against Moses and God from time to time, nevertheless they were led by His matchless power to a land of promise. Why was the Lord so merciful to them, I thought. I wonder if it was because of the faith and faithfulness of their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob or that of Moses and their other spiritual leaders. The Lord promised to them that their seed will be as the sands of the sea. I guess in order to do that, He would have to provide a place for them to have that seed.

In the next verse, Nephi shares that their descendants have now grown wicked enough that they will be destroyed, except a few of the righteous that the Lord will lead away, and a few who will be taken captive to Babylon. Part of these people are the current Jews in Jerusalem at the time of Nephi. Nephi again testifies of their wickedness. Again, we may contrast this with Laman and Lemuel's opinion of them in verse 22.