KJV: 2 Sam 22.35
35He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
NLV: 2 Sam 22.3535He trains my hands for battle;
he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
NLV: Job 20.24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.
NLV: Job 20.24 When they try to escape an iron weapon,
a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce them.
NLV: Ps 18.34 He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
“In other words, the translation of the Book of Mormon is accurate as to the terms used in the period in which it was written.”
Well, I believe we come to a draw on this one. A bow made entirely of bronze is possible I find, so I stand corrected on that point. However you have the same problems as before, 1) why would the BOM be dictated in very poor imitation of KJV language constructs, 2) given the poor language of the BOM (monotonous “And it came to pass” typical of an unschooled writer, not an angel of God) it is quite clear that Joseph Smith was merely a very assiduous plagarizer. So, reference to a steel bow is merely reference to a KJV statement and proves nothing.
That said, Lehi’s ball and an ocean going ship built by land locked Jews in 600 BC must strain the credulity of even the most smitten follower of Joseph Smith.
What I find amusing is that you reference a “scientific” analysis here from a Mormon site, while we are often called to task for referencing anti-Mormon sites with much more damning evidence of occult and Masonic rites.
Well, FC, I suppose if you’re going to discount the Book of Mormon in the grounds of something so superficial as grammatical construction - even though the construction is quite conformant to high-end writing styles of the time (after all, everybody learned to read out of the KJV Bible), then that’s up to you.
Personally, I’ve found the truths in the book to be valuable in my life; they have helped me find a higher degree of happiness, joy, and knowledge; and I know through prayer that the book is, along with the Bible, the word of God.
Remember, Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon in two months. You try putting together something like that in two months, and we’ll see if it withstands the tests of time and criticism as the Book of Mormon has. We’ll see if it is the catalyst to building up millions of faithful followers across the planet.
Also recall, the Book of Mormon was written by ancient prophets, not by Joseph Smith. They utilized chiasmus and other literary techniques that were quite accepted amongst the ancient Hebrew literati - even if they seem unfamiliar and awkward to us. Not bad for a New York farm boy with a 4th grade education.
So you admit there is a possibility and can check that off your list. NEXT. The language constructs of the different books of the BOM (even the ones that were abridged by Moroni) have been shown through language pattern tests to come from different authors. Gods prophets do not plagiarize. He gives them truth in all periods of time. I would not expect you to call Jesus or his apostles plagiarists when stating similar language and truths as the OT prophets did.
That said, Lehi’s ball and an ocean going ship built by land locked Jews in 600 BC must strain the credulity of even the most smitten follower of Joseph Smith.
1 Nephi 18:2
Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men.