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To add to my previous comment, presumably Psalm 2 was written around the time of David and Solomon, circa 1000 BC, and it predates the destruction of the Jaredite nation, which took place after the arrival of the Lehite and Mulekite colonies in the Americas circa 600 BC. It was a foretelling of the future destruction of the Jaredite and Nephite nations.
Thank you, Raymond, for your kind response! I will say that the Nephites, especially the Nephite monarchy, were aware of and used Psalm 2 (Psalm 2:7: “Thou art my son, this day I have begotten thee”), as evident in King Benjamin’s sermon (see Mosiah 5). I have demonstrated this here (http://publications.maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/jbms/21/2/S00001-51097b3600d211-Bowen.pdf). The injunction in Psalm 2 to “kiss the Son” or, amended “kiss [Yahweh’s] feet” was also important to them (see http://publications.maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/studies/5/Studies5_1_Bowen.pdf and http://publications.maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/fullscreen/?pub=2271&index=6).
The interpretation that you are suggesting is certainly possible from a Nephite/Lamanite perspective. The image of the “rod of iron” was given new meaning by Lehi’s dream and Nephi’s vision of that dream. However, the earlier associations from Psalm 2 would have been retained.
Very interesting suggestion. Thank you!
This discussion about “beating” and “crushing” reminds me of Psalm 2, which is a prophecy of the Lord defeating “the kings of the earth (who) set themselves against the Lord, and against his anointed,” declaring to the Lord that “thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” These verses were set to music in Handel’s Messiah. Since the defeat, beating and crushing were a direct fulfilment of prophecy from God for both the wicked Jaredites and the wicked Nephites, that God would see them crushed if they did not repent and trust in the Messiah, it could be argued that the events described by Moroni for both the destruction of the Jaredites and of the Nephites, are fulfillments of the prophecy in Psalm 2.
I enjoyed this article, and the audio recording.
There were some odd noises on the narration. Was “Candy Crush” being played in the background to subtly underscore the “place of crushing”?
Jim: if it is “Candy Crush” in the background, we have (as you say) taken aural punning to an entirely new level. 🙂
Btw, thank you for you kind feedback! 🙂