Chapter 9
Messengers find the
chief judge dead at the judgment seat—They are imprisoned and later released—By
inspiration Nephi identifies Seantum as the murderer—Nephi is accepted by some
as a prophet. About 23–21 B.C.
After Nephi had told the mob about the assassination of the
chief judge by his brother, five were sent to discover what happened.
As the five went to see what had occurred, they discussed
the situation. They didn’t believe Nephi was a prophet, yet, if they found the
chief judge dead, they would believe all his words.
Remember, Nephi had told them, “Yea, behold it is now even
at your doors; yea, go ye in unto the judgment–seat, and search; and behold,
your judge is murdered, and he lieth in his blood; and he hath been murdered by
his brother, who seeketh to sit in the judgment–seat” (Helaman 8:27).
When they arrived, they found the chief judge dead, lying in
his blood. They were amazed. They fell to the earth because they didn’t believe
his prophecy.
They now believed Nephi and his prophecy, seeing the dead
chief judge. This brings to mind the Savior’s response to Thomas, who believed
Christ had been resurrected only after he saw him and touched him. “Jesus saith
unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29).
The chief judge had been assassinated by his brother. When
his servants saw what had happened, they ran and told the people, telling them
the fate of the chief judge. When the people arrived, they saw the five men
whom had been sent to see if the chief judge was dead.
They came to an expected conclusion. The five were
responsible for assassinating the chief judge. They proclaimed God had smitten
them so they could not flee. Unfortunately for the five, the people did not
know they had been sent by the mob[1]
at Nephi’s garden.
The five were bound and thrown into prison. A proclamation
was sent forth throughout the land the chief judge had been assassinated and
those responsible were in prison. The next day, the people assembled to fast
and mourn when the chief judge was buried.
Those at Nephi’s garden heard about the assassination of the
chief judge and left. They also attended the burial of the chief judge.
Now, those who were at Nephi’s garden started to ask about
the five sent to see if the chief judge was dead. They knew nothing about the
five, but they had caught and jailed the five responsible for the
assassination.
The judges had the five brought before them. When they were
brought before the judges, they were asked to tell their side of the story.
They told their story. They had been a part of the mob at
Nephi’s garden. They were sent to verify if the chief judge was alive or dead. When
they saw him dead, they were so amazed, they fell to the earth. When they recovered,
they were thrown into prison.
They told the judges they had no idea who had assassinated the
judge. They were there at the request of the mob and found him dead. They had
verified the truth of Nephi’s words.
The judges considered to matter and concluded Nephi had been
a part of the plot to assassinate the chief judge. After he knew he was dead,
he pretended to “prophesy” the chief judge was dead. This was done to convert
the people and have they accept him as a prophet. They decided to question
Nephi, confident he would confess to his part in the assassination and tell the
judges who was the assassin.
The five were set free.
But, they rebuked the judges.
They contended with them, and confounded them. Even so, they had Nephi
bound and brought before a mob, questioning him, hoping he would be forced to
confess. They desired to put him to
death.
[1] “And
it came to pass that there were certain men passing by and saw Nephi as he was
pouring out his soul unto God upon the tower; and they ran and told the people
what they had seen, and the people came together in multitudes that they might
know the cause of so great mourning for the wickedness of the people” (Helaman 7:11).
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