Just as Lemuel is always associated with Laman, Sam is always faithfully linked with Nephi. His loyalty to God’s commandment appears to parallel Nephi’s, and Sam’s descendants share the same blessing as Nephi’s descendants. Although we hear very little of Sam, Lehi declares that “thou shalt be even like unto thy brother.” That places Sam in very good company and underscores his individual righteousness, even though the stories that Nephi tells only involve Sam peripherally.
Lehi has blessed his entire household. That ends the story of Lehi as the head of the family. At some point thereafter, Lehi dies. Nephi declares that he “waxed old.” That phrase is often used in the Book of Mormon for those who are on their deathbed.
In Israel, the patriarch of the family was to be honored, and while Lehi lived, Laman and Lemuel acquiesced to their father. When Lehi died, the last thread that held the family together was severed as well. This is the beginning of the separation into Lamanites and Nephites, though no groups were yet known by those names.