Jacob does not tell us how much time passes between his receiving the plates from Nephi and Nephi’s death. Although Nephi could have lived for some time after transmitting the record, it does not seem likely. The ending chapter of 2 Nephi 32 appears abbreviated, perhaps due to failing health and Nephi’s desire to end with a final testimony. In 2 Nephi 33:14, he notes: “I speak unto you as the voice of one crying from the dust.” This reference to Isaiah is probably in the original context of words from one lying in the grave. It seems reasonable that Nephi sensed his impending demise.
The next piece of information is that Nephi arranges for succession. First, he assures a transmission line for the small plates, then assures the formal transmission of rulership and, not coincidentally, the large plates. These are the actions of a man preparing for the end, not one assuming that he has several remaining years. While there was likely some time between the transfer of the small plates and the anointing of a new king, that time was probably measured in months, not years.