Noel Reynolds notes that in Lehi's final words to his youngest son Joseph, he depends heavily on the writings of two ancient prophets in Egypt--Joseph and Moses (see 2 Nephi 3:4-25). It is interesting that in Nephi's collection of Lehi's patriarchal blessings to his posterity, he omits his own blessing, however we find allusions to it in the blessings of the other brothers. In the first blessing, Lehi speaks to Laman, Lemuel, Sam and the sons of Ishmael, and tells them: "Rebel no more against your brother." He strongly endorses Nephi by summarizing Nephi's qualifications: (1) "[Nephi's} views have been glorious"; (2) he has "kept the commandments from the time that we left Jerusalem"; and (3) "were it not for him, we must have perished with hunger in the wilderness." (2 Nephi 1:24). . . . In refuting Laman and Lemuel's claims that Nephi "sought power and authority" over them (2 Nephi 1:24-26), Lehi explains that Nephi was only seeking "the glory of God, and [their own eternal welfare." (2 Nephi 1:25-27). . . . The blessings given to Zoram, Sam, Jacob, and Joseph corroborate the fact that Lehi intended Nephi to be the leader. Because Zoram has been a faithful and "a true friend" to Nephi, Lehi promises that his posterity will be blessed with Nephi's (2 Nephi 1:30-31). Jacob, too, will be blessed and "dwell safely with . . . Nephi" (2 Nephi 2:1-3). Joseph is told that if he follows Nephi, he will receive similar blessings (2 Nephi 3:25). Finally, Sam is blessed to inherit land with Nephi. His descendants shall be numbered with Nephi's, and he will be blessed all his days (2 Nephi 4:11). In all the blessings, whether negative or positive, Nephi is explicitly endorsed as the authorized successor to Lehi. [Noel B. Reynolds, "The Political Dimension in Nephi's Small Plates," FARMS, 1987, pp. 31-32]