Ether 7
People in this chapter
Ether 7 covers several generations in twenty-seven verses. Moroni is abridging a long royal history, and he moves fast. Kings are born, rebel, are captured, and are restored, often within a single verse.
Tap any highlighted phrase to jump to the commentary that unpacks it.
Ether 7:1-7Brought into Captivity
1And it came to pass that Orihah did execute judgment upon the land in righteousness all his days, whose days were exceedingly many. 2And he begat sons and daughters; yea, he begat thirty and one, among whom were twenty and three sons. 3And it came to pass that he also begat Kib in his old age. And it came to pass that Kib reigned in his stead; and Kib begat Corihor.
Orihah was a righteous king for a very long time. He had thirty-one children. His son Kib became king after him.
4And when Corihor was thirty and two years old he rebelled against his father, and went over and dwelt in the land of Nehor; and he begat sons and daughters, and they became exceedingly fair; wherefore Corihor drew away many people after him. 5And when he had gathered together an army he came up unto the land of Moron where the king dwelt, and took him captive, which brought to pass the saying of the brother of Jared that they would be brought into captivity. 6Now the land of Moron, where the king dwelt, was near the land which is called Desolation by the Nephites. 7And it came to pass that Kib dwelt in captivity, and his people under Corihor his son, until he became exceedingly old; nevertheless Kib begat Shule in his old age, while he was yet in captivity.
Kib's son Corihor rebelled, gathered followers and an army, and took his own father captive. This was exactly what the brother of Jared had warned about.
Ether 7:8-13Restored unto His Father
8And it came to pass that Shule was angry with his brother; and Shule waxed strong, and became mighty as to the strength of a man; and he was also mighty in judgment. 9Wherefore, he came to the hill Ephraim, and he did molten out of the hill, and made swords out of steel for those whom he had drawn away with him; and after he had armed them with swords he returned to the city Nehor, and gave battle unto his brother Corihor, by which means he obtained the kingdom and restored it unto his father Kib. 10And now because of the thing which Shule had done, his father bestowed upon him the kingdom; therefore he began to reign in the stead of his father. 11And it came to pass that he did execute judgment in righteousness; and he did spread his kingdom upon all the face of the land, for the people had become exceedingly numerous. 12And it came to pass that Shule also begat many sons and daughters.
Shule grew strong and wise. He made weapons, defeated Corihor, and gave the kingdom back to his father Kib. Then Kib made Shule king, and Shule ruled righteously.
13And Corihor repented of the many evils which he had done; wherefore Shule gave him power in his kingdom.
Corihor, who had taken his own father captive, repented. Shule forgave him and gave him a place of power in the kingdom.
Ether 7:14-22The Country Was Divided
14And it came to pass that Corihor had many sons and daughters. And among the sons of Corihor there was one whose name was Noah. 15And it came to pass that Noah rebelled against Shule, the king, and also his father Corihor, and drew away Cohor his brother, and also all his brethren and many of the people. 16And he gave battle unto Shule, the king, in which he did obtain the land of their first inheritance; and he became a king over that part of the land. 17And it came to pass that he gave battle again unto Shule, the king; and he took Shule, the king, and carried him away captive into Moron. 18And it came to pass as he was about to put him to death, the sons of Shule crept into the house of Noah by night and slew him, and broke down the door of the prison and brought out their father, and placed him upon his throne in his own kingdom.
Corihor's son Noah rebelled against both King Shule and his own father. He captured Shule, but Shule's sons rescued him and put him back on his throne.
19Wherefore, the son of Noah did build up his kingdom in his stead; nevertheless they did not gain power any more over Shule the king, and the people who were under the reign of Shule the king did prosper exceedingly and wax great. 20And the country was divided; and there were two kingdoms, the kingdom of Shule, and the kingdom of Cohor, the son of Noah. 21And Cohor, the son of Noah, caused that his people should give battle unto Shule, in which Shule did beat them and did slay Cohor. 22And now Cohor had a son who was called Nimrod; and Nimrod gave up the kingdom of Cohor unto Shule, and he did gain favor in the eyes of Shule; wherefore Shule did bestow great favors upon him, and he did do in the kingdom of Shule according to his desires.
The land split into two kingdoms. Cohor, Noah's son, attacked Shule and was killed. Cohor's son Nimrod gave his kingdom to Shule and was treated well.
Ether 7:23-27Prophets Sent from the Lord
23And also in the reign of Shule there came prophets among the people, who were sent from the Lord, prophesying that the wickedness and idolatry of the people was bringing a curse upon the land, and they should be destroyed if they did not repent. 24And it came to pass that the people did revile against the prophets, and did mock them. And it came to pass that king Shule did execute judgment against all those who did revile against the prophets. 25And he did execute a law throughout all the land, which gave power unto the prophets that they should go whithersoever they would; and by this cause the people were brought unto repentance.
During Shule's reign, prophets came from the Lord. They warned that the people's wickedness and idol worship would bring destruction unless they repented. The people mocked them.
King Shule punished those who attacked the prophets and made a law that let the prophets go anywhere. Because the prophets could preach freely, the people repented.
26And because the people did repent of their iniquities and idolatries the Lord did spare them, and they began to prosper again in the land. And it came to pass that Shule begat sons and daughters in his old age. 27And there were no more wars in the days of Shule; and he remembered the great things that the Lord had done for his fathers in bringing them across the great deep into the promised land; wherefore he did execute judgment in righteousness all his days.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- JareditesAn overview of the people whose kings fill this chapter.
- ProphetScriptures on prophets sent from the Lord, like those in verse 23.
- Repent, RepentanceScriptures on the repentance of Corihor (v. 13) and of the whole people (v. 26).
- IdolatryBackground for the wickedness and idolatry the prophets warned against (v. 23).
Where this echoes in Scripture
Brought into Captivity
- Ether 6:23Surely this thing leadeth into captivity.The warning fulfilled in verse 5.
- 2 Samuel 15:10-12Absalom reigneth in Hebron... and the conspiracy was strong.Another son who rose against his father the king.
- Proverbs 29:2When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
- Mosiah 29:17How much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed, yea, and what great destruction!
Restored unto His Father
- Mosiah 26:30As often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me.
- Genesis 50:20-21Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good... I will nourish you, and your little ones.
- Doctrine and Covenants 64:10Of you it is required to forgive all men.
- Luke 15:20When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion.
The Country Was Divided
- Mosiah 29:21Ye cannot dethrone an iniquitous king save it be through much contention, and the shedding of much blood.
- Matthew 12:25Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation.
- Ezekiel 18:20The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father.Each generation chooses for itself.
- Matthew 5:9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Prophets Sent from the Lord
- Ether 2:8Whoso should possess this land of promise... should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be swept off.
- 2 Chronicles 36:15-16The LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers... But they mocked the messengers of God.
- Mosiah 27:2That there should not any unbeliever persecute any of those who belonged to the church of God.
- Moroni 4:3And always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them.
- Ether 9:28And there came prophets in the land again, crying repentance unto them.