The land of Lehi’s inheritance was located in the land of Jerusalem either westward, northward, or eastward of the city of Jerusalem, see the Places Around Jerusalem internal map.
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 1:77 [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.
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