One thing we do know is Lehi left Jerusalem with four sons (1 Nephi 2:5), two more born in the wilderness (1 Nephi 18:7), and at least two sisters (2 Nephi 5:6) and probably at least two more accordingto the Apostle Erastus snow.
Following are some of the little- or lesser-known facts within the scriptural record of the Book of Mormon and found in the scriptural record to verify the scriptural record. These are:
The Identity of Nephi’s Wife. Nephi married: “and took one of the daughters of Ishmael (left) to wife” (1 Nephi 16:7); and later when Laman and Lemuel threatened Nephi’s life, “That they were angry with me again, and sought to lay hands upon me; but behold, one of the daughters of Ishmael, yea, and also her mother, and one of the sons of Ishmael, did plead with my brethren, insomuch that they did soften their hearts (1 Nephi 7).
This admirable, unnamed daughter was probably Ishmael’s youngest daughter as was Nephi the youngest son of Lehi. Since the process of marrying the oldest daughter first was an ancient practice among the Hebrews—called mohar (ketuba) or Jewish Wedding Contract, with mattan as a gift—then married the next oldest daughter second, etc., down to the last, the numbers suggest that Zoram married Ishmael’s oldest daughter (1 Nephi 16:7) who followed Nephi into the wilderness where the young prophet established the City of Nephi (2 Nephi 5:6), and the rest would have married in order: second daughter and Laman, third daughter, Lemuel fourth daughter to Sam, and the fifth daughter to Nephi. It stands to reason then that Ishmael would have followed Lehi into the wilderness and both the sons of Lehi would have been so eager to go back to Jerusalem and the daughters of Ishmael so eager to go into the wilderness with Lehi’s family (1 Nephi 7:19)
Nephi being tied to the mast by Laman and Lemual as Nephi’s wife looks on. Her pleading had no effect this time
However, on the sea voyage, Laman and Lemuel were at it again in a much more dangerous manner perhaps prompted by their wives, asking why they were taking orders from a younger brother. In frustration and anger, they tied Nephi to the mast during a storm that threated to capsize the boat and drown them all. During this fearful storm, Nephi says: “also my wife with her tears and prayers, and also my children, did not soften the hearts of my brethren that they would loose me“ (1 Nephi 18:19).
In any event, this youngest daughter must have been outspoken in her own right and a brave and courageous young woman, for she would have had to have been still a teenager at the time, perhaps 15 or 16—too young for Nephi’s three older brothers, for she thrice is noted as having stood up to them for Nephi, once before married on the trail down to Lehi’s tent, and the other times in the ship, sailing during the storm. Thus, it would appear that Nephi’s feisty wife was the youngest daughter of Ishmael and a very special woman in her own right.
Since the Liahona stopped working, this time—unlike the time with the dancing and making merry on board—the ship could not be steered into a path that would save them time in the ship, the only thing that freed him was Laman and Lemuel’s fear of not being able to steer the boat and keep it afloat since the Liahona stopped working. Finally, when their fears exceeded their ability to withstand their fear, and they saw the power of the Lord, they untied Nephi, much to the gratitude of Nephi’s wife and children as well as everyone else on board. As Nephi put it: “And there was nothing save it were the power of God, which threatened them with destruction, could soften their hearts; wherefore, when they saw that they were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea they repented of the thing which they had done, insomuch that they loosed me” (1 Nephi 18:20).
The Liahona began to work as soon as Nephi was released and his position of navigating the boat again restore
After all, there was one daughter mentioned who had Nephi’s qualities in a writing Nephi did---of the eight or ten (or more) women Nephi mentioned, he wrote about only two—his mother and this youngest daughter of Ishmael—the one who stood up for Nephi on at least three occasions and it seems reasonable that it was the same daughter on each occasion.
Note: It is interesting that rarely is Sam mentioned during these battles between Nephi and Laman and Lemuel.
And it came to pass that as we journeyed in the wilderness, behold Laman and Lemuel (and their future wives), and two of the daughters of Ishmael, and the two sons of Ishmael and their families, did rebel against us; yea, against me, Nephi, and Sam, and their father, Ishmael, and his wife, and his three other daughters (1 Nephi 7:6).
And it came to pass that they were angry with me again, and sought to lay hands upon me; but behold, one of the daughters of Ishmael, yea, and also her mother, and one of the sons of Ishmael, did plead with my brethren, insomuch that they did soften their hearts; and they did cease striving to take away my life (1 Nephi 7:19).
Thus, the youngest daughter of Ishmael married Nephi and had children. Joined by them, she tearfully begged and prayed for Laman and Lemuel to untie Nephi during the sea voyage. She faithfully remained with her husband when they separated from Laman and Lemuel
Now, two of the five daughters of Ishmael rebelled against Nephi along with Laban and Lemuel and also with their two older brothers, the sons of Ishmael. It seems reasonable that these two daughters were the older and more strong-willed daughters of Ishamel, except for the oldest daughter, who seemed the odd-one-out of the family and who aligned with Zoram, who himself was likely older, like her, and which she married later (1 Nephi 16:7). It is also likely that Laban was aligned with the second oldest, and Lemuel with the third oldest, with Sam and the next daughter and Nephi with the youngest daughter, who was likely the one who their mother aligned with in the end, as mother’s often do in supporting their youngest against her older siblings (1 Nephi 7:19).
(see the next post for more items that are not known by most readers of the Book of Mormon Land of Promise)
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