Could the events of Mosiah 11-17 have
occurred on Shavuot. There are several evidences that point in this direction.
The Ten Commandments were first given on
Shavuot and the events of Mosiah 11-17
recall this event. Abinadi uses Exodus type terminology, referring to
“bondage,” "deliver[ance]" and "burdens lashed upon their
backs" (Mosiah 11:21, 23;12:2, 5; compare with Exodus 1:11). Furthermore,
he repeats the ten Commandments (Mosiah 12:34-36; 13:12-24) and following this
his "face shone with exceeding luster, just as Moses' face shined while at
mount of Sinai, while speaking with YHWH." (Mosiah 13:5; compare Exodus
34:29-30).
The harvest festival theme of Shavuot is
another important element which demonstrates the Shavuot connection. Abinadi, in keeping with the harvest festival
theme of the
holiday, cursed the crops of King Noah's
people (Mosiah 12:6
Mosiah 11-17 also contains several
parallels with the Shavuot liturgy, most particularly Psalm 50. For example:
Our God shall come, and shall not keep
silence
(Ps. 50:3)
YHWH will come down in the sight of all the
people
(Ex. 19:11)
God himself shall come down among the
children of men
(Mosiah 15:1)
Psalm 50:13-14 indicates that God prefers
thanksgiving to sacrifices while Mosiah 13:11 calls for God's commandments to
be "written in your hearts."
Psalm 50:16-21 like Mosiah 11-17 is a
strong rebuke to keep the Torah of God.
Both Psalm 50:16, 22 and Mosiah 11:23;
12:29 call us to keep the Torah not just proclaim it.
Two years earlier Abinadi had been exiled
from the city (Mosiah 11:28-12:1). Certainly
Abinadi would have chosen an opportune time to return. A festival
occasion would have given Abinadi a large audience, making it an optimum time
to enter the city and give his
Message to a large number of people.
When all of these facts are considered it
seems very likely that the festival of Shavuot serves as the backdrop for the
events recorded Mosiah 11-17.
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