Jacob closed his discourse in the previous chapter by reminding the people of the promise of God that the descendants of Lehi, in the future, would become a "righteous branch" to the house of Israel. In his address in this chapter, he again refers to this promise.
"Branch" has different meanings in the Scriptures, besides the literal one. The disciples of Jesus are called branches, in their relationship to the Master as the "vine." (Ezek. 17:3), of their ancestral houses, because they spring from them, as twigs from a stem, or root. In this chapter the descendants of Lehi are referred to. They are "many of our children"; and, "our children," in verse 2. Many of them will perish, because of unbelief, but not all. There will be a restoration.