1 Nephi 4:1 - 4:5

1 Nephi 4:1 And it came to pass that I spake unto my brethren, saying: Let us go up again unto Jerusalem, and let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier than all the earth, then why not mightier than Laban and his fifty, yea, or even than his tens of thousands?

Nephi now tries to boaster the confidence of his brothers to accomplish the mission. He reminds them that the Lord is far more powerful than Laban’s body guard or even the 10,000 men he might command of the army.

Again I think that the older boys were trying to find an excuse to get out of doing this very dangerous thing. You would wonder if you had had an visitation by an angel, if you would not now feel you could do anything. However, I guess it doesn’t matter what proofs you see, you personal fears or prejudices can over ride them.

1 Nephi 4:2 Therefore let us go up; let us be strong like unto Moses; for he truly spake unto the waters of the Red Sea and they divided hither and thither, and our fathers came through, out of captivity, on dry ground, and the armies of Pharaoh did follow and were drowned in the waters of the Red Sea.

Nephi tries to compare the strength of mission as that of the character of Moses as he look at the Red Sea wondering how to get away to Pharaoh’s armies. What faith did it take for him to do as the Lord had commanded him that told him to create a path over the floor of this body of water for his people to cross to the other shore.

I think that because the suggestion came to him by the still small voice as mentioned in D&C that Nephi was trying to tell his brothers, they could use the same power to get the plates. Even though the Holy Ghost has almost no coverage in the Old Testament, Nephi knew about him and what he could do. Anyway Nephi said that power was available to them.

1 Nephi 4:3 Now behold ye know that this is true; and ye also know that an angel hath spoken unto you; wherefore can ye doubt? Let us go up; the Lord is able to deliver us, even as our fathers, and to destroy Laban, even as the Egyptians.

Nephi reminds them that they know the story of this miracle is true. They have also seen an angel. How could they possibly doubt that with the power of the Lord they could succeed in getting the plates. Just like when the Lord destroyed the Egyptians who tried to follow the children of Israel.

1 Nephi 4:4 Now when I had spoken these words, they were yet wroth, and did still continue to murmur; nevertheless they did follow me up until we came without the walls of Jerusalem.

Nephi’s words were persuasive, but they did not excite the boys as to the mission. They were still doubting they could do this and continued grumbling and in this case not under their breath. They make their way back to the walls of the city.

1 Nephi 4:5 And it was by night; and I caused that they should hide themselves without the walls. And after they had hid themselves, I, Nephi, crept into the city and went forth towards the house of Laban.

Nephi told the boys to hid near the city walls and that he himself would go in and get the plates. I’m sure he could not depend on the two older boys to follow the Spirit because of their doubting of the mission and total lack of experience of being inspired by the Holy Ghost.