Chapter 2
King Benjamin
addresses his people—He recounts the equity, fairness, and spirituality of his
reign—He counsels them to serve their heavenly King—Those who rebel against God
shall suffer anguish like unquenchable fire. About 124 B.C.
1 AND it came to pass
that after Mosiah had done as his father had commanded him, and had made a
proclamation throughout all the land, that the people gathered themselves
together throughout all the land, that they might go up to the temple to hear
the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them.
2 And there were a
great number, even so many that they did not number them; for they had
multiplied exceedingly and waxed great in the land.
3 And they also took
of the firstlings of their flocks, that they might offer sacrifice and burnt
offerings according to the law of Moses;
4 And also that they
might give thanks to the Lord their God, who had brought them out of the land
of Jerusalem, and who had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies, and
had appointed just men to be their teachers, and also a just man to be their
king, who had established peace in the land of Zarahemla, and who had taught
them to keep the commandments of God, that they might rejoice and be filled
with -love towards God and all men.
5 And it came to pass
that when they came up to the temple, they pitched their tents round about,
every man according to his family, consisting of his wife, and his sons, and
his daughters, and their sons, and their daughters, from the eldest down to the
youngest, every family being separate one from another.
6 And they pitched
their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door
thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and
hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them;
Mosiah 2:1-6
Mosiah sent the proclamation throughout the land of
Zarahemla. The people gathered together
at the temple to hear King Benjamin’s words.
This was similar to what King Josiah did.
“29 Then the king [Josiah], sent and gathered together all
the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
“30 And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all
the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the
Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the
words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.
“31 And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant
before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his
testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to
perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.
“32 And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and
Benjamin to stand to it. And the
inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their
fathers.
“33 And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the
countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were
present in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days they departed not from
following the LORD, the God of their fathers” (2 Chronicles 34:29-33).
It’s apparent that this gathering was called on short
notice. “Apparently all of King Benjamin’s people have come together on short
notice, eager to listen to their beloved king (Mosiah 2:1). Reading
between the lines, we assume that the people are previously baptized church
members who are confident they are righteous (King Benjamin says
‘they have been a diligent people in keeping the
commandments of the Lord’ [Mosiah 1:11]); they observe the law of Moses (Mosiah
2:3); and they have come ‘that they might give thanks to the Lord their God’
for actions on the part of the Lord and others (Mosiah 2:4).”[1]
Todd Kerr looks at the covenant relationships and King Benjamin’s
speech. “Not surprisingly, Nephite kingship was ‘inextricably connected’ with
covenants. King Benjamin’s speech, for example, illustrates royal
mediation of covenants and contains the six ceremonial components found in
biblical texts. King Benjamin ‘made a proclamation throughout all the land,
that the people gathered themselves together throughout all the land’ (Mosiah
2:1). After the people assembled, King Benjamin gave a public address
concerning God’s commandments (Mosiah 2:1; 4:4). Although King Benjamin’s
speech may not have referenced legal documents like the stone tablets at Sinai,
it is clear that King Benjamin admonished obedience to a particular body of
Nephite legal and religious law.”[2]
When the people gathered, they took the firstling of their
flocks, they offered sacrifices according to the Law of Moses. Nephi emphasized they kept the Law of
Moses. “And, notwithstanding we believe
in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto
Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled” (2 Nephi 25:24).
When preaching to the Zoramites, Amulek explained the purpose
of the Law of Moses.
“13 Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great
and last sacrifice, and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should
be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the claw of Moses be
fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall
have passed away.
“14 And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every
whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last
sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal” (Alma 34:13-14).
They also gave thanks to the Lord for bringing them to this
land and delivering them from their enemies.
They were grateful to have just teachers of the gospel and a just
team. They were living in peace and
following the commandments.
“[W]e can infer from the text that Benjamin’s people came up
to the temple with some preparation for and in some anticipation of a spiritual
event. They were aware of what their kings had been trying to do for them
according to the ancient pattern. They knew that there was a blessing awaiting
them. In Mosiah 2:4 we read that they go up to the temple, in part,
to give thanks to God for their king ‘who had taught them to keep the
commandments of God, that they might rejoice and be filled with
love towards God and all men’ (Mosiah 2:4; emphasis added).”[3]
[2]
Ancient
Aspects of Nephite Kingship in the Book of Mormon, Todd R. Kerr, Maxwell
Institute, accessed June 30, 2014.
[3]
King
Benjamin and the Mysteries of God, M. Catherine Thomas, Maxwell Institute,
accessed June 30, 2014.
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