13  And it came to pass that two hundred and thirty and eight years had passed away—after the manner of wars, and contentions, and dissensions, for the space of ^bmuch of the time.

  1  For behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years had passed away from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem; wherefore, Nephi gave me, Jacob, a ^acommandment concerning the small plates, upon which these things are engraven.

  27  And I, Jacob, saw that I must soon go down to my grave; wherefore, I said unto my son Enos: Take these ^bplates. And I told him the things which my brother Nephi had commanded me, and he promised obedience unto the commands. And I make an end of my writing upon these plates, which writing has been small; and to the reader I bid farewell, hoping that many of my brethren may read my words. Brethren, adieu.

  15  And I deliver these plates into the hands of my son Omni, that they may be kept according to the ^acommandments of my fathers.