"Their Blood Might Not Come Upon Our Garments"

Kings and Priests

As the reader progresses through the Book of Mormon, he or she comes to that point where the leadership is transferred, as Nephi nears the end of his life. My last several readings, beginning really not that long ago, I have been impressed with how much Nephi acts like a king and his brother Jacob acts like a priest. This transfer of spiritual leadership serves as a type of Christ, as the Great High Priest and King of kings (see Hebrews 4: 14: Revelation 19: 16).

Jacob, as perhaps the Book of Mormon's best doctrinal teacher, has successfully delivered great sermons, experiencing profound teaching moments. In fact, it seems whenever Nephi wanted a message delivered just in the right way, he let Jacob do the teaching.

Sword of Justice

As Nephi transfers the kingly duties, we are informed about his reign as a king as it states, 

"The people having loved Nephi exceedingly, he having been a great protector for them, having wielded the sword of Laban in their defence, and having labored in all his days for their welfare—" (Jacob 1: 10).

The sword of Laban becomes an emblem of authority, and swords particularly are symbolic of the justice of God, who has a sword of His own, sharpened and waiting in its sheath (see Ezekiel 21: 3-15; Alma 60: 29; Helaman 13: 5).

The tenor of doctrine now shifts as King Nephi emphasizes the justice of God in verses such as, " And I said unto them that our father also saw that the justice of God did also divide the wicked from the righteous; and the brightness thereof was like unto the brightness of a flaming fire, which ascendeth up unto God forever and ever, and hath no end" (1 Nephi 15: 30).

Bowels of Mercy

Jacob is now going to teach us about the "bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice" (Alma 34: 15). Remember that the Anti-Nephi-Lehies relied upon mercy, not justice, as they buried their swords deep in the earth and subjected themselves to unjust punishment from their enemies.

Jacob is a true priest, an advocate for his congregation, and like Christ, as a mediator, he stands between them and justice. Cause my biggest fear at the judgment day is that I'll get exactly what I deserve. Priests were the great teachers, especially in the Book of Mormon, but they were also the ones who performed the ordinances of the temple, all of which pointed to that "great and last sacrifice" of Jesus (see Alma 34: 10).

Jacob emphasizes that his record is on the priestly small plates, containing the most precious spiritual doctrine, and not the kingly historical record (see Jacob 1: 2-4). As he commits himself to this role he states, "Wherefore, I, Jacob, take it upon me to fulfil the commandment of my brother Nephi" (Jacob 1: 8). He realizes this is no light matter, as he "takes upon himself" the weight of sin and sorrow, as a forerunner of Christ, who would take upon Himself the sins, pains, and sufferings of the world.

"Fill the Hand"

But before a priest can go to work, he must be consecrated according to Mosaic Law. Jacob cites this as authentication of his authority: "For I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been consecrated priests and teachers of this people, by the hand of Nephi" (Jacob 1: 18).

The "hand" of Nephi becomes significant. In ancient consecration ceremonies, the priest would be initiated by taking upon his hands the entirety of the sacrifice. First, "Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. . . . And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him" (Leviticus 8: 6,12). Anciently priests were washed and anointed. After the holy anointing oil was put upon them, they were considered to be the property of the Lord. Then they were dressed in coats (garments), girdles (sashes), and bonnets (caps). (see Leviticus 8: 13).

Two rams were used, and one of them was the "ram of consecration." This ram was sacrificed and the blood was placed upon "the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet."

The next part is quite interesting:

"And he took the fat, and the rump, and all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and the right shoulder:

 "And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before the Lord, he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put them on the fat, and upon the right shoulder:

"And he put all upon Aaron’s hands, and upon his sons’ hands, and waved them for a wave offering before the Lord.

"And Moses took them from off their hands, and burnt them on the altar upon the burnt offering: they were consecrations for a sweet savour: it is an offering made by fire unto the Lord" (Leviticus 8: 22-28).

I would think the priests' hands would be quite full at this point with the fat, rump, caul, kidneys, the right shoulder, unleavened cake (pierced bread pointing to the sacrifice of Christ), oiled bread, and one wafer. In fact, the Hebrew word for consecration comes from two words--male and yad. The two words combine to make the phrase, "fill the hand."

The priest would perform a "wave offering" as the offering was presented to the Lord. This concept becomes central to all of Jacob's teachings, as Christ will present His firstfruits (that's us) to the Father. The brother of Jared "filled his hands" with clear, white, celestial stones and presented them to the Lord, where He touched each one to give each a certain brilliance. But before the brother of Jared saw within the veil, he performed this act of "consecration" or "filling the hand."

That presentation was you and me!