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Book of Mormon/Anachronisms/Mulek
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Criticism
Critics of the Book of Mormon argue that it contradicts the Bible when it states that one of King Zedekiah's sons (Mulek) escaped and came to the Americas.
Source(s) of the Criticism
- Utah Lighthouse Ministries.
- Saints Alive Ministry Newsletter. May-June 1999.
- Life After Ministries.
Response
The Book of Mormon teaches that when Jerusalem was destroyed by Babylon during the reign of Zedekiah all of the sons of Zedekiah were killed, except one son named Mulek. Omni 1:15, Helaman 8:21
Biblical evidence does not preclude the existence of another son of King Zedekiah. In fact, recent evidence brought to light by non-LDS scholars indicates otherwise:
- The first clue of the existence and escape of Mulek, son of Zedekiah, can be found in 2 kings 25꞉1-10, which reports that Nebuchadrezzar and "all his host" scattered "all the men" and "all [the king's] army" and burnt "all the houses of Jerusalem," and with "all the army" they destroyed the walls. In the midst of all this, however, 2 kings 25꞉7 omits the word all when it reports only that "the sons" of Zedekiah were killed, leaving open the question whether all of his sons were slain.[1]
There is a clear distinction here between using the clarifier "all" in reference to the other subjects and not using it when talking about the sons of Zedekiah. It is not necessary that the author write "all but one" when referring to the death of the other sons.
Although it is debatable[2], there is some evidence that "Malchiah the son of Hammelech" in Jeremiah 38꞉6 is a possible reference to the Book of Mormon's Mulek.[3]. Hammelech is Hebrew for “The king.” So, accurately translated, Jeremiah 38꞉6 refers to "Malkiyahu son of the king." It is also suggested that the Book of Mormon name Mulek might be a shortened form of the biblical Hebrew Malkiyahu. In support of this possibility, it is noted that while Jeremiah's scribe is called Baruch in Jeremiah 36꞉4, a longer form of his name, Berekhyahu, appears on an ancient stamp seal impression[4].
Hugh Nibley has also written about some ancient documents found in the city Lachish during the time of Lehi. These documents help corroborate the story of Mulek and Lehi. [5]
Conclusion
A summary of the argument against the criticism.
Endnotes
- [note] John W. Welch, ed., Reexploring the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1992), 142–44.
- [note] John A. Tvedtnes, John Gee, and Matthew Roper, “Book of Mormon Names Attested in Ancient Hebrew Inscriptions,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 9/1 (2000): 79n58
- [note] John W. Welch, ed., Reexploring the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1992), 142–44.
- [note] Nahman Avigad, Hebrew Bullae from the Time of Jeremiah (Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society, 1986), 28–29.
- [note] http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/display.php?table=transcripts&id=34
Further reading
FAIR wiki articles
Book of Mormon/Anachronisms/Mulek
FAIR web site
External links
- Jeffrey R. Chadwick, "Has the Seal of Mulek Been Found?," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 12/2 (2003). [72–83] link
- John L. Sorenson, "The Mulekites," Brigham Young University Studies 30 no. ? (Summer 1990), 6–22. off-site
Printed material
- Anonymous, "New Information About Mulek, Son of the King," in Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch (Provo, Utah: FARMS, 1992), 142–144.GL direct link