Nephi enters the city at night and the Spirit leads him to Laban, lying drunk on the ground. Perhaps without fully understanding why, Nephi drew Laban’s sword from its scabbard. As the son of a metalsmith, he understood the fine workmanship of the sword, but it is doubtful that he wrote this passage to praise the sword. Rather, it is more likely that he noted the finery of the sword to characterize the man. This was more than a tool, it was a symbol. This was a powerful man who exercised that power through wealth and position. This was, after all, a man whose unrighteous desire for wealth resulted in the theft of the gold and silver that had been offered as an exchange.
With the sword in hand, Nephi gives us the next reason why killing Laban was not murder. The Spirit commanded it. Even with the Spirit commanding that he should kill Laban, Nephi notes that he shrank from the idea. This reinforces the lack of intent while adding the divine sanction. It cannot be murder if a messenger from the very God who gave the commandment not to murder now commanded to kill.