In the opening paragraph of the Stick of Joseph, Nefi presents us with a seven-point chiastic structure. This is very important because seven is the number of completion. A chiastic structure is a form of Hebrew poetry in which a statement, or series of statements are made and then parallel statements are made in reverse order. A very simple example of chiasmus can be found in Isaiah 55:8:

A. For my thoughts
A. my Ways

Now let us look at the seven-point chiastic structure in Nefi’s opening paragraph of the Stick of Joseph:

I Nefi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father. And having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of YHWH in all my days,

A. yes, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of Elohim,

B. therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days. 

C. Yes, I make a record in the language of my father, 

D. which consists of the learning of the Y’hudim

C. and the language of the Egyptians.

B. And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with my own hand, 

A. and I make it according to my knowledge. (1 Nefi 1:1)

In a chiastic structure, the center point of the chiasm represents the most important point in the structure. In this case, the most important point is “the learning of the Y’hudim (Jews)” revealing to us that the “learning of the Jews” is a key to understanding the Stick of Joseph.

Years later Nefi would write:

For I came out from Yerushalayim, and my eyes have beheld the things of the Y’hudim, and I know that the Y’hudim do understand the things of the prophets. And there is no other people that understand the things which were spoken unto the Y’hudim like unto them, except it be that they are taught after the manner of the things of the Y’hudim. (2 Nefi 11:2)

Just like the Stick of Judah, the time has come for a distinctly Jewish text of the Stick of Joseph to be understood in terms of Jewish language and modes of thought. The time has come to apply the rich tradition of Jewish hermeneutics to the Stick of Joseph. By beginning his record with a Hebraic poetic structure, centering on this point, Nefi highlights the need to consider this text from a Jewish perspective. The learning of the Jews is key to understanding the Stick of Joseph and will play a major part in the fulfillment of its purpose, demonstrating that the Stick of Joseph is, after all, an ancient Jewish book.