The River and Fountain in Lehi's Vision

[volgadon]

In 1st Nephi 12:16 we read what interpretation the angel gave to the fountain and river which Lehi saw in his vision.

And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the fountain of filthy water which thy father saw; yea, even the river of which he spake; and the depths thereof are the depths of hell.

This verse popped into my head today as I was reading Frank Moore Cross's From Epic to Canon. Here is the relavent bit from the chapter entitled The Priestly Tabernacle and the Temple of Solomon. He is refering here to canaanite mythology and symbolism.

The cosmic river springing up from the underworld is also 'Judge River,' shapitu nahari, as in Mesopotamia the place of the river ordeal, the place of questioning or judgement, as one enters the underworld, whence the term sheol.¹¹

11n.

I have long held to this etymology in view of Akkadian use of the same root, shalu, of judicial inquiry, haling to judgement, and most significant, precisely in connection with the river ordeal.

What I find striking is the connection between the river and hell, or sheol, as Lehi would have called it.

I'm actually really excited about this.

Here is a vision, purporting to be from 600 B.C. or so, and containing a number of interpretations. This one, at the very least, as it turns out, matches similar imagery from the ancient world. In other words- a hit.

[Zakuska]

In 1st Nephi 12:16 we read what interpretation the angel gave to the fountain and river which Lehi saw in his vision.

This verse popped into my head today as I was reading Frank Moore Cross's From Epic to Canon. Here is the relavent bit from the chapter entitled The Priestly Tabernacle and the Temple of Solomon. He is refering here to canaanite mythology and symbolism.

What I find striking is the connection between the river and hell, or sheol, as Lehi would have called it.

I'm actually really excited about this.

Here is a vision, purporting to be from 600 B.C. or so, and containing a number of interpretations. This one, at the very least, as it turns out, matches similar imagery from the ancient world. In other words- a hit.

Other rivers come to my mind...

River Styx - paying a toll to get across

River Lemuel possiby seems to match the symbolism too as a type of Judgement scene.

[volgadon]

You know what, I would hardly be surprised if the Styx didn't derive from Phoenician myth.

[J Green]

Great link, Volgadon. Thanks for sharing.

[Vance]

<SNIP> This one, at the very least, as it turns out, matches similar imagery from the ancient world. In other words- a hit.

Oh Great, volgadon. Just what we need, more evidence for the anti-Mormons to ignore!

[volgadon]

And I'm sure that ignore it they shall.

[volgadon]

bump

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Also refers to a "river of water"...in the Middle East, you refer to rivers in this manor as not all are running water except in the rainy seasons.

1 Ne. 2: 6, 9

6 And it came to pass that when he had traveled three days in the wilderness, he pitched his tent in a valley by the side of a river of water.