Lehi's Traveling Group

What did the group traveling with Lehi look like?  We know of course that Lehi, Sariah, Laman, Lemuel, Nephi, and Sam were on the trip.  Jacob and Joseph were born at some point in the wilderness.  Zoram also was with them.  We know from 2 Nephi 5:6 that Nephi also had at least two sisters, but there aren’t mentioned anywhere else in the Book of Mormon.  It’s likely that they were born on the trip like Jacob and Joseph.  The other family with them was that of Ishmael.  We know that this included Ishmael, his unnamed wife, five daughters, and two sons (see 1 Nephi 7:6).  But I didn’t realize until today—apparently I didn’t pay enough attention to the text—that the two sons of Ishmael were both married at the start of the journey.  We read that “two of the daughters of Ishmael, and the two sons of Ishmael and their families, did rebel against [Nephi]”.  So Ishmael’s two sons already were married and possibly had children they were bringing along as well.  This means that when the group finally got underway, they consisted of eighteen people plus any children that the two sons of Ishmael may have had.  The numbers worked out really well, since Ishmael had five daughters and there were four sons of Lehi plus Zoram who needed a wife—clearly the Lord knew what He was doing, and these five marriages all took place on their journey (1 Nephi 16:7).  My guess is that Jacob and Joseph must have married children of Zoram and his wife, the eldest daughter of Ishmael.  It’s also interesting to me that we talk a lot about Laman and Lemuel, but rarely mention the sons of Ishmael even though the text often groups them together.  For example, we read that “Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael did begin to murmur exceedingly” and “[Nephi’s] brethren and the sons of Ishmael… were lifted up unto exceeding rudeness” (1 Nephi 16:20, 1 Nephi 18:9).  Ultimately the sons of Ishmael became a part of the Lamanites who were “a compound of Laman and Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael” (Alma 43:13).  What’s impressive to me, then, is that when Nephi stood up for truth and righteousness against his two brothers, he was also standing up against the two sons of Ishmael, all of whom were older than him.  It must have taken great courage and trust in God for Nephi to be as valiant in the faith as he was during their incredibly difficult journey.