Lehi ends his references to the prophecies of Joseph of Egypt, and returns to direct instruction to his son, Joseph. The result of the prophecies of Joseph of Egypt is that there will be a record of Lehi’s seed that will preserve their testimony of Jehovah, both as the father of heaven and earth and as the mortal Messiah. That testimony will come to light through one that Jehovah would raise to the task. In 2 Nephi 3:5 Lehi spoke of his seed as a branch of Israel which was broken off. Through his seed would come a record that would be instrumental in restoring that broken-off branch to Israel. In Lehi’s words, “unto the bringing to pass much restoration unto the house of Israel, and unto the seed of thy brethren.”
Lehi ends with the admonition to listen to Nephi, an admonition Lehi specifically gave to Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and “my sons who are the sons of Ishmael” in 2 Nephi 1:28.
The phrase “thou art little” reminds us that neither Joseph nor Jacob could be very old at this time. Had they been born at the beginning of the sojourn in the wilderness, they would only have been around eight years old when they arrived in Bountiful. There is no indication of when Lehi gave this admonition. But it appears to have been sooner than later after their arrival in the New World. Thus, the brothers might have been ten years old at this time. Little, indeed, to have such an important charge.