According to John Thompson, the structure and themes of Jacob's covenant speech show that he probably spoke in connection with a religious royal festival, to which the words of Isaiah which he quoted were especially well suited. For example, in Jacob's speech, he begins by reminding the people that he has previously spoken to them "concerning all things which are written, from the creation of the world" (2 Nephi 6:3). He also refers to Christ as the "great Creator" (2 Nephi 9:5-6). These points may be echoes of a traditional New Year setting, for throughout the ancient Near East and in many traditions around the world, New Year's Day is closely associated with the creation of the world. This creation theme is further emphasized in an Isaiah passage quoted by Jacob: "And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth?" (2 Nephi 8:13, parallel to Isaiah 51:13). [John S. Thompson, "Isaiah 50-51, the Israelite Autumn Festivals, and the Covenant Speech of Jacob in 2 Nephi 6-10," in Isaiah in the Book of Mormon, pp. 130-131]