1 Nephi 17:43 - 17:47

1 Nephi 17:43 And now, after all these things, the time has come that they have become wicked, yea, nearly unto ripeness; and I know not but they are at this day about to be destroyed; for I know that the day must surely come that they must be destroyed, save a few only, who shall be led away into captivity.

But now it is clear that the people who live in Jerusalem are so wicked, like the original inhabitants of the land, that they are ripe for destruction. Its all over for them and they will be killed except for a few who will be lead away into slavery.

1 Nephi 17:44 Wherefore, the Lord commanded my father that he should depart into the wilderness; and the Jews also sought to take away his life; yea, and ye also have sought to take away his life; wherefore, ye are murderers in your hearts and ye are like unto them.

The Lord therefore commanded Lehi to leave Jerusalem, like the children of Israel, to leave Egypt. But instead of being obedient to the Lord’s commands, the older boys have rebelled like some of the children of Israel. They have even gone so far as to want to kill their own father. They are murders in their hearts like unto these rebellious children of Israel.

1 Nephi 17:45 Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder.

Nephi does not hold back on this wicked brothers. He is bold to call them out for their very wicked behavior. He reminds them of their seeing an angel. He tries to get them to remember the still small voice that they have heard from time to time. And because they would not listen to that voice, the angel has even spoken as be the voice of thunder which did make the earth shake around them.

1 Nephi 17:46 And ye also know that by the power of his almighty word he can cause the earth that it shall pass away; yea, and ye know that by his word he can cause the rough places to be made smooth, and smooth places shall be broken up. O, then, why is it, that ye can be so hard in your hearts?

Nephi reminds them that they do have a testimony that by the voice of the Lord, the earth can cease to exist or that just by speaking the rough places on this earth can become smooth. And likewise smooth places can become rough and broken up. So if they do know this, Nephi asks why they are so hard in their heart against, him, their father and the Lord?

1 Nephi 17:47 Behold, my soul is rent with anguish because of you, and my heart is pained; I fear lest ye shall be cast off forever. Behold, I am full of the Spirit of God, insomuch that my frame has no strength.

Nephi tells his brothers of his extreme disappointment of them. He is not only disappointed but bitter as well. He is so tired of dealing with their rebelliousness that he afraid that they will be cast off.

Nephi is so angry that it the Lord power that keeps him going because the brothers have just worn him down to the point that he can hardly function. I’m sure that he is wondering how he can build this ship without their help.