Reading on Multiple Levels

The fact that the Tree of Life and the Scriptures seem to be closely connected in Nephi’s mind is itself a powerful inducement to approach the Book of Mormon rabbinically. The Talmudic and post-Talmudic rabbis often wax poetic in their descriptions of the Torah. They liken it to a wife, because one must remember to devote a significant portion of one’s time to it; to wine, because imbibing it, according to them, strengthens one’s resolve and fortifies one’s convictions; to a double-edged sword, because it gives life in this world and the world to come; and to medicine, because it cures evil thoughts. However, the most compelling and most long-lasting metaphor they use is that of the Tree of Life.