Chapter Five of the Book of Jacob is devoted almost entirely to Jacob's recording of the prophecy of Zenos, wherein Zenos likened Israel to a tame olive tree. It is a prophetic history of the House of Israel and includes all the important events that have transpired and many that are yet to come to pass. The time encompassed by the allegory is from the covenant God made with Abraham to the Millennial reign of Christ.
First, who was Zenos? Zenos was a Hebrew prophet who labored amongst the Jews at a time which is not known to us. He is often quoted by Nephite servants of God. All we are told of his personal history is that he was slain because he testified boldly of what God had revealed to him. That he was a man greatly blessed with the spirit of prophecy is shown by the wonderful parable of the vineyard contained in this chapter of Jacob's Book. The prophecies of Zenos are also quoted by Nephi (3 Nephi 10:16).
To obtain a proper understanding of this almost incomparable allegory, a laborious study of prophecy, history, and genealogy is entailed. In ancient times the Jews made these subjects an important part of their learning. In fact, it was the mold in which their integral lives appear to have been cast. The Prophet Nephi said, "Yea, and my soul delighteth in the words of Isaiah, for I came out of Jerusalem, and mine eyes hath beheld the things of the Jews, and I know that the Jews do understand the things of the prophets, and there is none other people that understand the things which were spoken unto the Jews like unto them, save it be that they are taught after the manner of the things of the Jews." (2 Nephi 25:5)
When Lehi left the Land of Jerusalem, where he had resided all his life and where his children had been reared, they partaking of the habits and the customs of the Jews, he took with him a copy of the Hebrew Scriptures, engraved upon plates of brass. Besides the writings of Moses and the prophecies of Isaiah which they contained, Lehi's son, Jacob, and other Nephite servants of God, often quoted the words of Zenos and Zenock, which were also upon these plates. The writings of these holy men are now omitted from all modern compilations of the Old Testament. Important things have been taken away from the prophets which, otherwise, would make clear many of their sayings that are now obscure.
In the Book of Mormon the great truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are made known in plainness. "For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for the speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding." (Jacob 4:13)
No prophecy of God is obscure to those unto whom it is directed. To them its meaning is clear. "It need not be added to or taken from." The Apostle Peter, in his second letter to the Hebrew Christians in Asia Minor, says the apostles had not followed "cunningly devised fables" when they recounted the life of Jesus, his power and coming; for they had been eye witnesses to his majesty; they saw his glory and heard the voice from heaven, when they were with him in the holy mountain. But, he argues, if you want still more evidence of Jesus' divinity, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (II Peter 1:19-21) Such is the value the Apostle Peter places on the prophetic word. It is more sure, than what? Than the historical part of the Gospel, to which the apostles testified as eye witnesses. It shines as a light in a room during the dark hours, until the day breaks and the sun arises in full splendor. It is given us to heed, not to ignore. Indeed, the prophetic word is one of the most wonderful manifestations of the priesthood, caused by the operations of the Spirit upon the minds of holy men. It is the starlight for the guidance of the people of God, until the day star, the sun, comes up in glorious effulgence.
To understand and seize for one's own good, the lessons imparted in this allegory of the vineyard, it is necessary to remember it was written in the spirit of prophecy and of revelation. By that same spirit, Latter-day Saints know and proclaim its message and hear the wonderful promise of him, whose voice is to all men, even unto the ends of the earth, "For because of my Spirit he shall know that these things are true." (Ether 4:11)
In the study of this parable and of all that is in the Book of Mormon, it is well to keep in mind that wise men, in every age of the world, have likened evil and error to night, and superstition and lack of knowledge to darkness. In contrast, they have compared truth and understanding to light. "I will be a light unto them forever ..." is the glorious promise of the Lord to them, "that hear my words." (2 Nephi 7:10) As he watched his flock gathered about him, the Savior fondly compared himself to a shepherd. "I am the Good Shepherd," and with almost the same words he bid the Nephites, as he had the Jews, "Come follow me."
As men press forward in Jesus' footsteps and follow him along that path which is straight and narrow, they feel more and more "constrained to exclaim" with Isaiah, as is recorded upon the plates of brass, "O house of Jacob, come ye and let us walk in the light of the Lord." (Isaiah 2)
And here, one should not forget the words of the ancient Hebrew Brethren, "In thy light shall we see light." (Psalm 36:9)
Were we to comment freely upon the events that this parable of the vineyard points to, it would make an exceeding large volume. It would be a history of many nations and peoples. It would give the reasons that we think were the cause of their rise and decay. It would be a story of man's obedience to God, or his disobedience. It would divine the future. We have already given the early history of Israel at some length and have aimed to impart knowledge concerning God's promises to our forefathers that, in them he will do his pleasure in saving his children and bringing them to the true worship of the Lamb.