2 Nephi 10:3 Textual Variants

In the printer’s manuscript, the word thus is supralinearly inserted with heavier and darker ink flow. The quill is considerably duller than the one Oliver Cowdery used to write the text here in 𝓟. Based on multispectral imaging of the added thus, the ink for this correction appears to be different than the ink Joseph Smith used to edit this page of 𝓟 for the 1837 edition. There are two nearby corrections on this page of 𝓟 that were made by this unknown hand (it may be the 1830 compositor)—namely, the crossout in the previous line of “that he” (see the discussion above) and an attempt to correct the spelling Priests crafts three lines below (where the corrector ended up accidentally deleting the s in Priests that came before the t rather than after). These three corrections are found in lines 15, 16, and 19 on page 66 of 𝓟.

Like the deletion of “that he” earlier in this verse, the insertion of the thus appears to be due to editing. Originally, the clause “for it behooveth our God” is parenthetical and states that God considered it necessary that the Savior be crucified. The thus implies that somehow the crucifixion itself caused God to consider it necessary. Usage elsewhere involving behooveth shows that the thus is not required. Earlier in this two-part discourse, Jacob explains why the crucifixion was necessary:

• 2 Nephi 9:5
  • yea and I know that ye know that in the body he shall shew himself unto they at Jerusalem from whence we came for it is expedient that it should be among them for it behooveth the great Creator that he suffereth himself to become subject unto man in the flesh and die for all men that all men might become subject unto him

In 2 Nephi 10:3, Jacob reminds his listeners that the Lord himself requires the crucifixion. Even though the Jews in Jerusalem will crucify the Savior, the atonement is necessary and ordained by God himself. The insertion of the thus in 2 Nephi 10:3 is totally gratuitous and unnecessary.

One possible reason for adding the thus is that the reader expects the phrase “it behooveth X” to be followed by a that-clause. But here in 2 Nephi 10:3, there is no following that-clause, and so it appears that the clause “for it behooveth our God” is stranded. And indeed it is: the clause is parenthetical.

Elsewhere there are two other examples in the text of “it behooveth”:

• Helaman 14:15
  • for behold he surely must die that salvation may come yea it behooveth him and becometh expedient that he dieth to bring to pass the resurrection of the dead that thereby men may be brought into the presence of the Lord
• 3 Nephi 21:5–6
  • therefore when these works and the work which shall be wrought among you hereafter shall come forth from the Gentiles unto your seed which shall dwindle in unbelief because of iniquity for thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the Gentiles that he may shew forth his power unto the Gentiles

In both these examples, there is a logical connection with the previous clause, thus the connectors yea and for thus.

There are two examples of the verb behoove in the King James Bible, and both also refer to the atonement:

• Luke 24:45–46
  • then opened he their understanding that they might understand the scriptures and said unto them thus it is written and thus it behooved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day
• Hebrews 2:16–17
  • for verily he took not on him the nature of angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people

In both of these cases, there is a logical relationship with the preceding clause, thus the use of the connectors and thus and wherefore. But in 2 Nephi 10:3, the clause involving behoove is parenthetical and should not be connected by thus. The clause should probably be punctuated with surrounding dashes in order to clearly show its parenthetical nature.