2 Nephi 1:26 - 1:32
2 Nephi 1:26 And ye have murmured because he hath been plain unto you. Ye say that he hath used sharpness; ye say that he hath been angry with you; but behold, his sharpness was the sharpness of the power of the word of God, which was in him; and that which ye call anger was the truth, according to that which is in God, which he could not restrain, manifesting boldly concerning your iniquities.
Lehi tells his boys that even thought Nephi appears to have been angry with them from time to time it has really been the drive given him by the spirit to get things done. The spirit has been driving him to rebuke them from time to time for their rebellion. They has misinterpreted everything. When Nephi gave them truth, they took it as anger. It was not. He has only been deeply concern for their temporal and spiritual welfare.
2 Nephi 1:27 And it must needs be that the power of God must be with him, even unto his commanding you that ye must obey. But behold, it was not he, but it was the Spirit of the Lord which was in him, which opened his mouth to utterance that he could not shut it.
So what appears to be overwhelming power exercised upon them, it has only been the spirit of God that has been driving him to deal with them in that manner to get them to do as the Lord as directed him.
2 Nephi 1:28 And now my son, Laman, and also Lemuel and Sam, and also my sons who are the sons of Ishmael, behold, if ye will hearken unto the voice of Nephi ye shall not perish. And if ye will hearken unto him I leave unto you a blessing, yea, even my first blessing.
If the boys had been righteous, they would have been the leaders. So Lehi now commands his rebellious sons to look to Nephi for leadership. If they will do so they will not lose the blessing promised them by the Lord that they would prosper in the land of promise.
2 Nephi 1:29 But if ye will not hearken unto him I take away my first blessing, yea, even my blessing, and it shall rest upon him.
If they refuse and continue to rebel against Nephi they will see this blessing withdrawn from them. And Nephi will be made their permanent leader. We see shades of Joseph of Egypt here.
2 Nephi 1:30 And now, Zoram, I speak unto you: Behold, thou art the servant of Laban; nevertheless, thou hast been brought out of the land of Jerusalem, and I know that thou art a true friend unto my son, Nephi, forever.
Lehi speaks to Zoram, Laban’s servant who they brought with them on the journey. He has been a true friend of Nephi by his continued support of Nephi’s leadership.
2 Nephi 1:31 Wherefore, because thou hast been faithful thy seed shall be blessed with his seed, that they dwell in prosperity long upon the face of this land; and nothing, save it shall be iniquity among them, shall harm or disturb their prosperity upon the face of this land forever.
And because of his faithfulness, he and his posterity will have all the blessing promised those who are lead to the land of promise. His descendants will enjoy prosperity and protection as long as they continue to be faithful to the Lord. Only rebellion against the Lord will see this blessing taken from them.
2 Nephi 1:32 Wherefore, if ye shall keep the commandments of the Lord, the Lord hath consecrated this land for the security of thy seed with the seed of my son.
Zoram and his descendants will see this land as a promised blessing to them as they stand by Nephi and his leadership.
