The house of Israel is compared to an olive tree, whose branches are broken off and scattered worldwide; the Lehite colony’s migration to the New World is part of the fulfillment of the prophecy that the house of Israel would be scattered upon all the face of the earth. The comparison to an olive tree is an affirmation of the authentic ancient provenance of the text of the Book of Mormon. Israelite tradition equated the house of Israel with an olive tree. Jeremiah 11:16 indicates that Jehovah called Israel “a green olive tree, fair and of goodly fruit.” Later rabbinic commentary expounded on that symbolism, calling Israel a leafy and fair olive tree that shed light on all others. This imagery possibly came from the coloration of the underside of the olive leaf (silvery and light) as well as the fact that olive oil was burned for light. It is not happenstance in the Bible that when Gideon’s youngest son, Jotham, climbed Mount Gerizim and proclaimed a parable to the citizens of Shechem, the olive tree was given priority of place (Judges 9:7–11).
After the prophesied scattering of Israel comes a prophesied gathering. Read verse 14 carefully, noting the little word or. This is a classic example of plainness, continually clarifying to make sure no one misses the message. Notice also that the or signals wanting to add to or rephrase something that has already been written; it is hard to erase something that has been carved into metal plates!