Lesson 46 - Ishmael and His Daughters

Soon after the return of the sons of Lehi with the plates of brass to the tent of their father, on the borders of the Red Sea, they were commanded of the Lord to return once more to Jerusalem. The cause of this command was that God intended to make of the seed of Lehi a great people; but his sons were all unmarried, and there were no young women in the company who would do for wives for them. So, to fulfill the purposes of the Lord, they were sent to a man of the tribe of Ephraim, named Ishmael who had several marriageable daughters. We do not read that any of the sons of Lehi murmured at this command, but they immediately returned to Jerusalem. There they went to the house of Ishmael and made known their errand. And the Lord gave them favor in the eyes of Ishmael and his family, who left their home and went with the sons of Lehi into the wilderness. On the way they had considerable trouble, for Laman and others were very rebellious and quarrelsome; but, at last, they reached the tent of Lehi in safety, and in thankfulness to the Lord they thereupon offered sacrifice and burnt offerings unto Him. In a very little while four of the daughters of Ishmael married the four sons of Lehi, and the eldest daughter became the wife of Zoram, formerly the servant of Laban.