1 Nephi 16:12 - 16:16
1 Nephi 16:12 And it came to pass that we did take our tents and depart into the wilderness, across the river Laman.
Now begins the long trip to the land of promise which is about 8,000 miles as the crow flies. A lot longer on foot and at three miles an hour would take about 11 years.
They cross the river Laman and depart into the desert. The river crossing is like the crossing of the Red Sea by the Children of Israel which is symbolic of putting a separation between them and Jerusalem, their old life, and journeying to a new life in another land. They will never return to their old home again. It must have a little hard, considering they would never see relatives or friends again. And knowing that they would soon fall under the sword of the Babylonians or be taken as slaves to Babylonia.
1 Nephi 16:13 And it came to pass that we traveled for the space of four days, nearly a south-southeast direction, and we did pitch our tents again; and we did call the name of the place Shazer.
They travel for four days in a south-southeast direct. Obviously as directed by the ball. They named the place Shazer. Since the previous camp was named after the two old boys, it wonder who this place was named after another member of the group? And if so who was Shazer?
1 Nephi 16:14 And it came to pass that we did take our bows and our arrows, and go forth into the wilderness to slay food for our families; and after we had slain food for our families we did return again to our families in the wilderness, to the place of Shazer. And we did go forth again in the wilderness, following the same direction, keeping in the most fertile parts of the wilderness, which were in the borders near the Red Sea.
It is necessary for them to hunt for fresh meat. I’m guessing that remaining provision given to them by the Lord had run out and He directed them with the ball to go to this place to hunt for wild game of the desert.
The hunters had to go some distance from the camp to find game to kill as it says they returned to camp after their successful hunting. They may have butchered and preserved the meat before returning to their families.
But, now having fresh provisions, they continue the journey. There course goes through the ‘most’ fertile parts of the desert that are close the shores of the Red Sea. Again being directed by the ball, I’m sure.
1 Nephi 16:15 And it came to pass that we did travel for the space of many days, slaying food by the way, with our bows and our arrows and our stones and our slings.
As the group traveled, they lived off the land. Their main food being meat that they killed with their bows and arrows or with their clings and stones.
1 Nephi 16:16 And we did follow the directions of the ball, which led us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness.
After traveling like this for quite a while before they decide it is time to camp for a time. They are probably in need of rest as some of the woman I’m sure are pregnant by this time. They also probably need to let the pack animals which I assume are camels to graze for a while to fatten up to continue the journey. They also in need of food and want to stock up for want maybe part of the trip where games is not so plentiful.
