Question: Does the Book of Mormon phrase "curious workmanship" originate from Gilbert Hunt's ''The Late War''?

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Question: Does the Book of Mormon phrase "curious workmanship" originate from Gilbert Hunt's The Late War?

Critics' comparison: It is claimed that both books mention weapons of war of “curious workmanship” [1]

Chris Johnson, Duane Johnson, ""A Comparison of The Book of Mormon and The Late War Between the United States and Great Britain," http://wordtreefoundation.github.io/thelatewar/
  • Book of Mormon, Ether 10:27: And ... weapons of war ... of exceedingly curious workmanship
  • The Late War 19:13: And ... weapons of war were of curious workmanship

Full context comparison: The Book of Mormon does not talk of weapons of war of curious workmanship

Ether 10꞉27

27 And they did make all manner of weapons of war. And they did work all manner of work of exceedingly curious workmanship.

The Late War Chapter 19 (p. 67):

13 And their weapons of war were of curious workmanship, and they sent forth balls of lead; such as were unknown to Pharaoh when he followed the Children of Israel down into the red sea.

Note that the Book of Mormon mentions weapons, and then mentions additional objects that were of "curious workmanship." The Late War, on the other hand, is describing weapons of war (in this case guns that fire "balls of lead") as being perceived to be of "curious workmanship." The presentation of the Book of Mormon passage, however, is altered by the critics to make it appear that the Book of Mormon is talking about "weapons of war....of exceedingly curious workmanship." This is done in an attempt to enhance the perceived similarity of the passages.

The Bible speaks of "curious works" and describes "curious" objects

In Exodus 35:32 we read:

And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass.

The Bible also describes at least one object as being "curious" in Exodus 28꞉8

and Exodus 39꞉5

. Exodus 28:8:

And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

Exodus 39:5:

And the curious girdle of his ephod, that was upon it, was of the same, according to the work thereof; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen; as the Lord commanded Moses.


Notes

  1. Chris Johnson, Duane Johnson, "A Comparison of The Book of Mormon and The Late War Between the United States and Great Britain," http://wordtreefoundation.github.io/thelatewar/