This is the land and city of Jerusalem. The city of Jerusalem was northward of a wilderness near the city of Jerusalem, the Red Sea, the wilderness near the Red Sea, the river Laman, and the valley of Lemuel. The land of Lehi's inheritance was an area within the land of Jerusalem and was located westward, northward, or eastward from the city of Jerusalem. The land of Jerusalem was in proximity to Babylon and it was on the opposite side of Jordan than Bethabara.
Commentaries (
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I NEPHI 1:3 [1:4]: For it came to pass, in the commencement of the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah (my father Lehi having dwelt at Jerusalem in all his days); and in that same year there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Jerusalem, Judah, and the land of Lehi's inheritance. The city of Jerusalem is named in this verse as a 'great city'. This verse also identifies that Lehi lived in Jerusalem for his entire life. In I Nephi, the land of Lehi's inheritance is referred to as a different location than Jerusalem. The phrase 'first year of the reign' indicates that the people in Jerusalem use the calendar system of Judah. This would indicate Jerusalem and Judah were in close proximity to each other.
I NEPHI 1:12 [1:13]: Yea, and many things did my father read concerning Jerusalem--that it should be destroyed, and the inhabitants thereof, many should perish by the sword, and many should be carried away captive into Babylon.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Babylon and Jerusalem. The phrase 'my father' refers to Lehi, Nephi's father. To be carried away captive, Babylon should be outside of, but in proximity to, Jerusalem.
I NEPHI 1:26 [2:2]: And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Jerusalem and a wilderness around Jerusalem. The phrase 'into the wilderness' indicates there is a wilderness outside Jerusalem.
I NEPHI 1:30 [2:5]: And he came down by the borders near the shore of the Red Sea;
Commentary: This verse references the places of Jerusalem, Red Sea, river Laman, valley of Lemuel, and the wilderness around Jerusalem. The term 'he' refers to Lehi. The phrase 'came down' indicates the Red Sea is lower in elevation than Jerusalem. The wilderness around Jerusalem would also be in between Jerusalem and the Red Sea or along a route from Jerusalem to the Red Sea. This point where Lehi came down to the shore is a point three days of travel from the river Laman and the valley of Lemuel.
I NEPHI 1:38 [2:11]: Now this he spake because of the stiffneckedness of Laman and Lemuel; for behold they did murmur in many things against their father, because he was a visionary man, and had led them out of the land of Jerusalem, to leave the land of their inheritance, and their gold, and their silver, and their precious things, to perish in the wilderness.
Commentary: This verse references the place of Jerusalem. This verse identifies the land of Jerusalem, not the city. It indicates that the practice of naming a city the same as the land surrounding it originated in the Old World and the Nephites took the practice with them when they journeyed to the New World.
I NEPHI 1:62 [3:4]: Wherefore the Lord hath commanded me that thou and thy brothers should go unto the house of Laban, and seek the records, and bring them down hither into the wilderness.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Jerusalem, the river Laman, the wilderness around Jerusalem, and the wilderness near the Red Sea. The term 'me' refers to Lehi. The term 'thou' refers to Nephi. The house of Laban is located in Jerusalem. This verse does not specify if 'wilderness' refers to the wilderness around Jerusalem or the wilderness near the Red Sea or if the two wildernesses are the same. So, the phrase 'bring them down hither into' indicates either the wilderness around Jerusalem or the wilderness near the Red Sea are lower in elevation than Jerusalem.
I NEPHI 1:67 [3:9]: And I, Nephi, and my brethren took our journey in the wilderness with our tents, to go up to the land of Jerusalem.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Jerusalem, the river Laman, and the wilderness near the Red Sea. The journey started at the river Laman, so the wilderness refers to the wilderness near the Red Sea. The phrase 'go up to' indicates the wilderness near the Red Sea is lower in elevation than Jerusalem.
I NEPHI 1:77 [3:16]: Therefore let us go down to the land of our father's inheritance, for behold he left gold and silver, and all manner of riches.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Jerusalem and the land of Lehi's inheritance. The term 'us' refers to Nephi and his brothers. The phrase 'our father' refers to Lehi. Nephi and his brothers were in Jerusalem at this time. The phrase go down' indicates the land of Lehi's inheritance is lower in elevation than Jerusalem. I Nephi 1:3 [1:4] mentions that Lehi lived in Jerusalem for his entire life. So, this verse indicates that Lehi lived in the land of Jerusalem and not in the city of Jerusalem. The elevation of the land of Lehi's inheritance as lower in elevation than Jerusalem is also mentioned in I Nephi 1:85 [3:22] and I Nephi 1:86 [3:23]. These verses do not add any additional geographical information, so, for brevity, they are not included in the commentary. Since Nephi and his brothers came from the wilderness near Jerusalem that is southward of the city of Jerusalem and did not stop in the land of Lehi's inheritance on the way to Jerusalem, the land of Lehi's inheritance would not be southward of the city of Jerusalem.
I NEPHI 1:80 [3:18]: Wherefore if my father should dwell in the land after he hath been commanded to flee out of the land, behold he would also perish.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Jerusalem and the land of Lehi's inheritance. The phrase 'my father' refers to Lehi. This verse indicates that Lehi lived in a land. Since I Nephi 1:3 [1:4] indicates that Lehi lived in Jerusalem for his entire life, the land of Lehi's inheritance would be in the land of Jerusalem. This means that the city of Jerusalem is in the land of Jerusalem.
I NEPHI 1:90 [3:27]: And it came to pass that we fled into the wilderness, and the servants of Laban did not overtake us, and we hid ourselves in the cavity of a rock.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Jerusalem and the wilderness around Jerusalem. The term 'we' refers to Nephi and his brothers. The act of fleeing and being chased indicates the wilderness around Jerusalem as very near Jerusalem.
I NEPHI 1:103 [4:4]: Now when I had spoken these words, they were yet wroth, and did still continue to murmur; nevertheless they did follow me up until we came without the walls of Jerusalem.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Jerusalem and the wilderness around Jerusalem. The term 'I' refers to Nephi. The term 'they' refers to his brothers. This verse indicates that the wilderness around Jerusalem is outside the walls of the city of Jerusalem. The term 'follow me up' indicates the wilderness around Jerusalem is lower in elevation than the city of Jerusalem. Since the city of Jerusalem is located at the top of a hill, this illustrates the consistency of the term 'up' to mean higher in elevation.
I NEPHI 3:11 [10:9]: And my father said he should baptize in Bethabara, beyond Jordan; and he also said he should baptize with water; even that he should baptize the Messiah with water.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Bethabara, Jerusalem, and Jordan. The term 'my father' refers to Lehi. Lehi lived in Jerusalem his entire life before leaving on his journey to the New World. The term 'beyond' indicates that Jordan is in between Jerusalem and Bethabara.
II NEPHI 8:39 [13:1]: For behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole staff of bread, and the whole stay of water,
Commentary: This verse references the places of Jerusalem and Judah. This verse also occurs in Isaiah 3:1. Jerusalem and Judah are separate places, probably in proximity to each other.
II NEPHI 8:46 [13:8]: For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongues and their doings have been against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Jerusalem and Judah. This verse also occurs in Isaiah 3:8. Jerusalem and Judah are separate places, probably in proximity to each other.
II NEPHI 9:14 [17:1]: And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah, the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up towards Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Israel, Jerusalem, Judah, and Syria. This verse also occurs in Isaiah 7:1. This verse names these places but provides no information regarding their locations. The phrase 'went up' indicates that Jerusalem is higher in altitude than Judah, Syria, and Israel.
II NEPHI 9:18 [17:5]: Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,
Commentary: This verse references the places of Ephraim, Jerusalem, and Syria. This verse is also found in Isaiah 7:5. The term 'thee' refers to Isaiah who was in Jerusalem at this time. The son of Remaliah is Pekah, the king of Israel. This verse indicates that Syria and Ephraim are in close proximity to each other in order to combine forces. Syria and Ephraim are also in proximity to Jerusalem.
II NEPHI 9:44 [18:6]: Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;
Commentary: This verse references the places of Israel, Jerusalem, Syria, and the waters of Shiloah. This verse also occurs in Isaiah 8:6. The term 'this people' refers to the people of Jerusalem. Rezin is the king of Syria. Remaliah's son is the king of Israel. People must be present in order to refuse something, so the phrase 'this people refuseth' indicates the waters of Shiloah are located in Jerusalem.
II NEPHI 9:91 [20:10]: As my hand hath founded the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;
Commentary: This verse references the places of Jerusalem and Samaria. This verse also occurs in Isaiah 10:10. The phrase 'my hand' refers to the Lord. The phrase 'and of' indicates that Jerusalem and Samaria (Ephraim) are in two different locations.
II NEPHI 9:93 [20:12]: Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and upon Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Assyria, Jerusalem, and mount Zion. This verse also occurs in Isaiah 10:12. These places are named but no information is provided regarding their locations. Biblical scholars place mount Zion as the hill next to, and westward, of Jerusalem.
II NEPHI 9:113 [20:32]: As yet shall he remain at Nob that day; he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.
Commentary: This verse references the places of the hill of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, and Nob. This verse also occurs in Isaiah 10:32. The term 'he' refers to the Assyrian. The phrase 'shake his hand' indicates that Nob is within visual distance of the hill of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is located on a hill.
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