This verse gives us important information for the makeup of the group that will journey. At this point, two of Ishmael’s daughters know that they will be wives to Laman and Lemuel. When Nephi was writing, he knew that these were to become their wives, but at this point in the record, they had not been married. We will not see the marriages until 1 Nephi 16:7.
There are daughters to become wives for Laman and Lemuel. There are three more daughters. These will become wives for Sam, Nephi, and Zoram. These are marriages in the more ancient tradition, so arranged marriages are not surprising. Given the difficulties of their journey, even before arriving in the New World, having wives at all was a blessing.
What happens in this instance is that Laman and Lemuel are reminded of what they are leaving behind in Jerusalem. Having come back yet again, they feel the pull of their old life. Even without their wealth, they would believe that they could establish themselves once again. The wives assigned to them were also reluctant to leave, preferring to stay in known surroundings.
The divisions are then drawn, with Laman, Lemuel, their wives, and two sons of Ishmael on the side of returning to Jerusalem; and Ishmael and his wife, their three remaining daughters, Sam, and Nephi, electing to heed divine counsel.
We know little of the two sons. They either had wives at the time, or were wed to Lehi’s daughters. We do not learn that Lehi had daughters until 2 Nephi 5:6, where Nephi mentions his sisters. Nephi never tells us when they were born. With the rest of Ishmael’s family so perfectly complementing Lehi’s sons and Zoram, perhaps Ishmael’s two sons were destined for two daughters who are simply not mentioned at this time.