Hebraisms

The fact that the Stick of Joseph contains language and concepts similar to those found in the New Testament is not the smoking gun critics think it is. The original Gospel of the Messiah was taught and recorded in biblical lands, and similarly taught and recorded in the Stick of Joseph lands in the Western Hemisphere. The ideas come from the same divine source, and the potentially oldest versions of Biblical manuscripts support the assertion that the Stick of Joseph is authentic, ancient and divine.

Of all the cities, towns and places of note in the Stick of Joseph, none plays a greater and more central role than the capital city of Zerach’mla (Zarahemla in the 1830 Edition). Because this place holds such a central role in the text, and also has such a unique history, it’s worth considering the city’s unique name and its potential meaning. 

This covenant made by the people is an example of a vow or oath made by way of a euphemism or analogy. Within Jewish law, there are two ways a person might make a vow. The first is direct, stating the terms forthrightly. For example, “this item shall be prohibited to me” is a direct statement of vow terms. However the vow might also be made by a euphemism, stating by analogy the terms of the vow.