Jacob 1:13-19

Now the people which were not Lamanites were Nephites; nevertheless, they were called Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites.

But I, Jacob, shall not hereafter distinguish them by these names, but I shall call them Lamanites that seek to destroy the people of Nephi, and those who are friendly to Nephi I shall call Nephites, or the people of Nephi, according to the reigns of the kings.

And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, under the reign of the second king, began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto David of old desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son.

Yea, and they also began to search much gold and silver, and began to be lifted up somewhat in pride.

Wherefore I, Jacob, gave unto them these words as I taught them in the temple, having first obtained mine errand from the Lord.

For I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been consecrated priests and teachers of this people, by the hand of Nephi.

And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day.

Jacob 1:13-19

Jacob tells us about the seven groups or tribes that were formed after Lehi’s death.  They were Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites.  Note that there is not a Samite group or a group for each of the two sons of Ishmael.  Sam was told that his descendants would be numbered among Nephi’s descendants (2 Nephi 4:11).  We have no idea why the two sons of Ishmael were put together in one group, the Ishmaelites.

Jacob sets the standard how the groups will be addressed throughout the remainder of the Book of Mormon.  Those who are friendly towards Nephi are called the Nephites.  Those that oppose the people of Nephi are called Lamanites.

Noel Reynolds explains the situation of the seven tribes.

After leading his family and a few others out of Jerusalem, Lehi established his colony in the Western Hemisphere as a branch of Israel in a new promised land, but its organization was inherently unstable, for it seems to have given no clear principle for resolving political disputes. The seven lineage groups established at Lehi's death and mentioned consistently in the Book of Mormon were Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites (Jacob 1:13; 4 Ne. 1:36—38; Morm. 1:8; Welch, 1989, p. 69). When this system proved unable to keep the peace, Nephi₁ led away the first four of these family groups, who believed the revelations of God; established a new city; and accepted the position of Nephite king by popular acclamation. The other three groups eventually developed a monarchical system, with a Lamanite king receiving tribute from other Ishmaelite, Lamanite, and Lemuelite vassal kings.[1]

Shortly after Nephi died, and Second Nephi began his rule, the people began to turn away from the Lord.  They began to seek after gold and silver.  They desired many wives and concubines like David and Solomon.  And, we have the first appearance of the Nephite disease, being lifted up in their pride.

Seeing the condition of the people, Jacob knew the responsibilities given him and Joseph when Nephi consecrated them as priests and teachers to the Nephites.  Jacob, “having first obtained mine errand from the Lord” (Jacob 1:17), went to the temple to teach them people.

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[1] Government and Legal History in the Book of Mormon, Noel Reynolds, Maxwell Institute, accessed February 19, 2014.