Helaman 7:22 Textual Variants

Royal Skousen
behold this great city and also all those great cities which are round about which are in the land of our possession shall be taken away that ye shall have no place in them

Normally the text refers to “the lands of our possessions”. Nonetheless, the singular land is possible; see for instance the discussion under 2 Nephi 9:2 regarding the related phrase “the land(s) of one’s inheritance”. Similarly, the singular possession is generally possible, as discussed under Alma 22:33–34. For specific discussion of the phrase “the land(s) of one’s possession(s)”, see under 2 Nephi 29:14 and Helaman 5:52. Here in Helaman 7:22, the critical text will maintain the reading of the earliest extant text, “the land of our possession” (the reading in 𝓟).

Summary: Maintain in Helaman 7:22 the earliest extant reading, “the land of our possession”; usage elsewhere in the text allows for the singular land and the singular possession in this phrase.

Analysis of Textual Variants of the Book of Mormon, Part. 5

References