1 Nephi 4:6 - 4:10

1 Nephi 4:6 And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.

Nephi tells us that he does not know just what he is to do as he enters the city. He has no idea what to do next, only that the Spirit is leading him forward.

This is often the only way we are influenced by the Spirit. We carry out our lives hoping that we are doing the right thing because we cannot see the results of our activities. We only hope that the efforts will pay off in good results for ourselves and our families and friends.

1 Nephi 4:7 Nevertheless I went forth, and as I came near unto the house of Laban I beheld a man, and he had fallen to the earth before me, for he was drunken with wine.

As he was moving towards Laban’s house he tripped over a drunken man in the street. The term is drunken with wine. In our language, when we say drunken, we infer that the man had been drinking intoxicating liquids. As the term in describing a river as a river of water instead of a river which is good Hebrew, Nephi uses good Hebrew to say that the man was drunken with wine not just drunken.

1 Nephi 4:8 And when I came to him I found that it was Laban.

Upon closer examination of the drunk, Nephi finds it to be Laban of all people. When the Spirit said he would deliver Laban into his hands, the Spirit meant it. Not only is Laban in his hands but Laban is powerless to call for help or even defend himself.

1 Nephi 4:9 And I beheld his sword, and I drew it forth from the sheath thereof; and the hilt thereof was of pure gold, and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine, and I saw that the blade thereof was of the most precious steel.

Nephi sees that Laban is armed with his sword and takes it. I guess Nephi didn’t want Laban is see his situation and try to kill Nephi with it.

Nephi takes the time to note the workmanship of the sword. That it was made of steel and the hilt was on pure gold. A very valuable sword indeed. This notation of the makeup of the sword by Nephi is proof as indicated by some Book of Mormon scholars that Nephi had metallurgy skills. Therefore it is not surprising that Nephi would have been impressed with the sword enough to even make a comment about it even in this unusual situation Nephi is in.

The ability to work with metals would be exhibited in the making of gold plates to make this record and for the making of swords after the pattern of Laban’s sword in the future for the Nephites defense against the Lamanites.

1 Nephi 4:10 And it came to pass that I was constrained by the Spirit that I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart: Never at any time have I shed the blood of man. And I shrunk and would that I might not slay him.

Now the Spirit makes a startling demand of Nephi. He is to kill Laban there in the street. If that were said to me I would react in horror was well. Nephi tells the Lord he has never tried to either wound of kill any man and did not want to kill Laban regardless of how evil he had been towards the boys.

One might wonder why a God of goodness would tell someone to kill another human being. Well, He sees what we don’t see and being good in our definition is not his necessarily. Being good is not letting one do as he pleases. Being good means doing what is best of the individual even if it means tough love.