05-15-2007, 08:06 PM | #11 |
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As for the tents; besides allusions to the Exodus, the fact that Lehi dwelt in a tent also shows that he has traded in one way of life for another. Lehi was familiar with desert trade and travel, as is evidenced by the fact he was able to so quickly leave and lead an expedition of many years, making return trips only for scriptures and wives for his sons. Though familiar with this lifestyle, he nevertheless lived in (or around) Jerusalem; when he left to live in a tent, he was forsaking his previous lifestyle of the Jerusalem Jews and adopting the lifestyle of the wandering, nomadic Arabs. The allusion to the Exodus is quite distinct, as well, and Nephi goes to the trouble of pointing this parallel out.
By the way, I'm in the middle of reading Xenophon's Anabasis, and I've come across some interesting features regarding ancient military units. Military units are discussed in terms of hundreds and thousands, and when military commanders are summoned, they are accompanied by so many hundred hoplites, peltasts, or archers. The smallest military unit mentioned is a company, comprised of 50 men, and an army of about 10,000 is considered a workable force. When Laman and Lemuel fear Laban's 50 men, and Nephi says not to worry about his 50 or his 10,000, these military units are suggested. I'd be curious to see how common these numbers and units are.
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05-16-2007, 01:02 AM | #12 |
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What kind of tent was it? Perhaps Mike could get one like it for his scout camps.
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05-16-2007, 01:15 AM | #13 |
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