Forbidden paths and strange roads

In Lehi\’s vision of the tree of life in 1 Nephi 8, we read about those who wander away from the tree and the rod of iron. In verse 28 they wander on \”forbidden paths\” and in verse 32 they wander in \”strange roads\”. Both of these expressions are rather peculiar. Many would perhaps just write them off as a result of Joseph Smith\’s hick dialect or something. I have learned that very often these expressions are very meaningful when viewed through an ancient Israelite lens. I wish I were an expert but I\’m not. But I try to learn from those who are. This is what I learned:

Forbidden paths

What does Lehi mean by this? Forbidden by whom? A Jewish rabbi comments:

There is a fantastic word-play here that only makes sense in Hebrew. Lehi says that those who fell away did so into “forbidden” paths. The Hebrew word for \’forbidden\’ is the word אסור (Asur). Now the word for Assyria is the word אשור (Ashur). What had Lehi’s family fled from a few centuries before? The Assyrian captivity that befell upon the Northern kingdom of Israel.

Strange roads

\”Strange roads\” is also a…well…strange expression. I learned from the Webster 1828 Dictionary that \’strange\’ used to mean \’foreign\’ more often than \’weird\’ in Joseph Smith\’s time. But there is an explanation from an ancient Israelite perspective that makes more sense. In Hebrew, strange is \’zar\’ and is often used in connection with idolatry. You see it all over the Old Testament 

Leviticus 10:1

And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.

Psalm 81:9

There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.

Judges 10:16

And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord

Etc…

We also read in Lehi\’s dream in 1 Nephi 8:33

And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building

The great and spacious building is also strange and could to an ancient Israelite be understood as a house of idolatry. To \”worship the work of their own hands\” (Isaiah 2:8) is an act of pride which the building is said to represent.

So the forbidden path is a path that leads to destruction, just like Lehi\’s forefathers had been destroyed and scattered by the Assyrians. The strange road is the road to idolatry. 

It amazes me how much meaning can be found in seemingly simple and somewhat odd expressions in the Book of Mormon.