Lehi first blesses Zoram, Laban’s servant, praising him as Nephi’s “true friend.” While Zoram is little mentioned in the Book of Mormon, he apparently was a righteous man who recognized Nephi as his spiritual leader. Perhaps when he mistook Nephi for Laban, he recognized Yahweh’s hand in his temporary deception. The declaration that he was a “true friend” certainly suggests that he maintained his support of Nephi, in contrast to Laman and Lemuel. Lehi blesses him to share in Nephi’s blessing—that his descendants will prosper as long as they do not fall into iniquity. Apparently, Zoram and his family have already covenanted to keep the commandments. It is therefore ironic that Zoram’s name would be attached to a much later group of Nephite apostates (see Alma 31–34).
Text: There is no chapter break at this point in the 1830 edition.