Shinar is between Elam and Hamath. There is insufficient information in the Book of Mormon to locate Shinar in relation to any other places. Researchers locate Sinar northeast of Jerusalem and in the same area as Chaldea.
Commentaries (
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I NEPHI 6:21 [20:14]: All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; who among them hath declared these things unto them? The Lord hath loved him; yea, and he will fulfill his word which he hath declared by them; and he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall come upon the Chaldeans.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Babylon, Chaldea, and Shinar. This verse also occurs in Isaiah 48:14. Researchers identify Babylon as the capital of Shinar although there is no information in the Book of Mormon that describes that relationship. These places are mentioned in this verse but no information is provided regarding their locations.
II NEPHI 9:126 [21:11]: And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Assyria, Cush, Egypt, Elam, Hamath, the islands of the sea, Pathros, and Shinar. This verse also occurs in Isaiah 11:11. These are listed in the same verse so they join borders (or do not have any lands in between them). There is insufficient information in the Book of Mormon to locate these places. However, their locations are known. As listed, and in the 7th century BCE, they did share borders or did not have any lands in between them. The Assyrian Empire (captial city was Ninaveh) stretched to Egypt. The capital city was known as Zoan to the Hebrews or as Tannis by the Egyptians. Egypt covered the lower Nile. Pathros (capital city was Thebes) bordered Egypt and covered the middle Nile. Cush (capital city was Napata) bordered Pathros and covered the upper Nile. The area between Cush and Elam was the Arabian Peninsula and there was no organized ruler or empire claiming that area. Elam (captial city was Susa) bordered Shinar (captial city of Babylon). Hamath (captial city was Hamath) bordered Shinar. The phrase 'islands of the sea' indicates Crete and the other islands in the Mediterranean Sea. The island of Crete is located offshore of Hamath.
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