Zoram and the Elders of the Jews

When Nephi found Zoram on route to the treasury shortly after being led to slay Laban, Zoram followed him supposing Nephi to be Laban.  Nephi recorded, “He spake unto me concerning the elders of the Jews, he knowing that his master, Laban, had been out by night among them.”  Nephi used this fact, that Zoram knew Laban was out with the elders of the Jews, to get Zoram to come with him without technically lying: “And I also spake unto him that I should carry the engravings, which were upon the plates of brass, to my elder brethren, who were without the walls.”  Zoram supposed that Nephi “spake of the brethren of the church” whereas Nephi was of course referring to Laman, Lemuel, and Sam.  Nephi couldn’t reveal the full truth until he had him somewhere alone but he was able to remain honest in what he said without causing Zoram to be suspicious.  The two went forth towards those brethren outside the walls of the city, and Nephi gave us this interesting detail about their walk together: “And he spake unto me many times concerning the elders of the Jews, as I went forth unto my brethren, who were without the wall” (1 Nephi 4:20-27).  This was the second time Nephi remarked that Zoram mentioned the elders of the Jews, and apparently it was the subject that Zoram kept bringing up.  Why would Nephi include this detail and what does it tell us about Zoram?

            I believe that these comments by Zoram showed his faith and desire to follow the Lord.  The “elders of the Jews” appear to have been the spiritual leaders of the people.  The phrase is mentioned a few times in the book of Ezra, such as in this verse when the decree of Cyrus was quoted by Darius: “Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place” (Ezra 6:7).  Clearly this refers to some group of Jewish leaders of the people.  In the New Testament the “elders” are referenced many times in conjunction with the “chief priests” and were prominent among the people.  For example, “Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest” (Matt. 26:3).  So when Zoram spoke of the “elders of the Jews” I believe he was talking about those who were supposed to be the spiritual leaders of the people.  Though likely these elders who were hanging out with Laban were not truly righteous—not unlike the chief priests and the elders of the days of the Savior—they were no doubt largely trusted by the people and kept up at least the pretenses of following Jehovah and keeping the law of Moses (it would only be a few years later when they would be destroyed because of wickedness).  Zoram’s interest in them perhaps then was a sign of his desire to follow the Lord and know what his leaders were teaching.  He may have been trying to get Laban (who was really Nephi) to tell him more of what these elders were teaching so he could learn and better follow the Lord’s word.  We know from later details in the story that Zoram was a righteous man and chose to follow the prophetic leadership in Lehi and Nephi, and so surely these desires were already a part of him at this point. 
              These comments about the elder of the Jews by Zoram may have been a reassurance to Nephi that Zoram was willing to follow the Lord.  It perhaps gave him confidence to bear this witness to Zoram as he sought to convince his new friend to follow Lehi into the wilderness: “Surely the Lord hath commanded us to do this thing; and shall we not be diligent in keeping the commandments of the Lord?” (1 Nephi 4:34)  Zoram of course went and made an oath to go with them, showing his great faith to leave his life in Jerusalem and follow one of the Lord’s prophets to the promised land.