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Annotations |
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Chapter 2
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1 And it came to pass in the commencement of the fifth
year of their reign there began to be a contention among the people; for a
certain man, being called Amlici, he being a very cunning man, yea, a wise
man as to the wisdom of the world, he being after the order of the man that
slew Gideon by the sword, who was executed according to the law—
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The only pre-Columbian weapon I can find that was similar
to a sword was the macuahuitl which was made with a plank of wood similar in
shape to a cricket bat with obsidian blades mounted on the edges. It is
similar enough to a sword that it is often referred to as the Aztec sword.
However, the macuahuitl does not seem to fit the Book of
Mormon time frame. “Some groups of Central Mexico, principally in the
transition between the Early and the Late Post-Classic, probably
developed this weapon” (emphasis added, Dr. Marco Antonio Cervera Obregón,
“The macuahuitl: an innovative weapon of the Late Post-Classic in
Mesoamerica”, Arms & Armour, Vol.3, Nov. 2, 2006, p. 146, article from a research journal).
The Post-Classic period is between 900 CE and the Spanish conquest.
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2 Now this Amlici had, by his cunning, drawn away much
people after him; even so much that they began to be very powerful; and they
began to endeavor to establish Amlici to be a king over the people.
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3 Now this was alarming to the people of the church, and
also to all those who had not been drawn away after the persuasions of
Amlici; for they knew that according to their law that such things must be
established by the voice of the people.
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4 Therefore, if it were possible that Amlici should gain
the voice of the people, he, being a wicked man, would deprive them of their
rights and privileges of the church; for it was his intent to destroy the
church of God.
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5 And it came to pass that the people assembled themselves
together throughout all the land, every man according to his mind, whether it
were for or against Amlici, in separate bodies, having much dispute and
wonderful contentions one with another.
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6 And thus they did assemble themselves together to cast
in their voices concerning the matter; and they were laid before the judges.
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7 And it came to pass that the voice of the people came
against Amlici, that he was not made king over the people.
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8 Now this did cause much joy in the hearts of those who
were against him; but Amlici did stir up those who were in his favor to anger
against those who were not in his favor.
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9 And it came to pass that they gathered themselves
together, and did consecrate Amlici to be their king.
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10 Now when Amlici was made king over them he commanded
them that they should take up arms against their brethren; and this he did
that he might subject them to him.
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11 Now the people of Amlici were distinguished by the name
of Amlici, being called Amlicites; and the remainder were called Nephites, or
the people of God.
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12 Therefore the people of the Nephites were aware of the
intent of the Amlicites, and therefore they did prepare to meet them; yea,
they did arm themselves with swords, and with cimeters, and with bows,
and with arrows, and with stones, and with slings, and with all manner of
weapons of war, of every kind.
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The only pre-Columbian weapon I can find that was similar
to a sword was the macuahuitl which was made with a plank of wood similar in
shape to a cricket bat with obsidian blades mounted on the edges. It is similar
enough to a sword that it is often referred to as the Aztec sword.
However, the macuahuitl does not seem to fit the Book of
Mormon time frame. “Some groups of Central Mexico, principally in the
transition between the Early and the Late Post-Classic, probably
developed this weapon” (emphasis added, Dr. Marco Antonio Cervera Obregón,
“The macuahuitl: an innovative weapon of the Late Post-Classic in
Mesoamerica”, Arms & Armour, Vol.3, Nov. 2, 2006, p. 146, article from a research journal).
The Post-Classic period is between 900 CE and the Spanish conquest.
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13 And thus they were prepared to meet the Amlicites at
the time of their coming. And there were appointed captains, and higher
captains, and chief captains, according to their numbers.
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14 And it came to pass that Amlici did arm his men with
all manner of weapons of war of every kind; and he also appointed rulers and
leaders over his people, to lead them to war against their brethren.
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15 And it came to pass that the Amlicites came upon the
hill Amnihu, which was east of the river Sidon, which ran by the land of
Zarahemla, and there they began to make war with the Nephites.
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16 Now Alma, being the chief judge and the governor of the
people of Nephi, therefore he went up with his people, yea, with his
captains, and chief captains, yea, at the head of his armies, against the
Amlicites to battle.
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17 And they began to slay the Amlicites upon the hill east
of Sidon. And the Amlicites did contend with the Nephites with great
strength, insomuch that many of the Nephites did fall before the Amlicites.
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18 Nevertheless the Lord did strengthen the hand of the
Nephites, that they slew the Amlicites with great slaughter, that they began
to flee before them.
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19 And it came to pass that the Nephites did pursue the
Amlicites all that day, and did slay them with much slaughter, insomuch that
there were slain of the Amlicites twelve thousand five hundred thirty and two
souls; and there were slain of the Nephites six thousand five hundred sixty
and two souls.
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20 And it came to pass that when Alma could pursue the
Amlicites no longer he caused that his people should pitch their tents in the
valley of Gideon, the valley being called after that Gideon who was slain by
the hand of Nehor with the sword; and in this valley the Nephites did
pitch their tents for the night.
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The only pre-Columbian weapon I can find that was similar
to a sword was the macuahuitl which was made with a plank of wood similar in
shape to a cricket bat with obsidian blades mounted on the edges. It is
similar enough to a sword that it is often referred to as the Aztec sword.
However, the macuahuitl does not seem to fit the Book of
Mormon time frame. “Some groups of Central Mexico, principally in the
transition between the Early and the Late Post-Classic, probably
developed this weapon” (emphasis added, Dr. Marco Antonio Cervera Obregón,
“The macuahuitl: an innovative weapon of the Late Post-Classic in
Mesoamerica”, Arms & Armour, Vol.3, Nov. 2, 2006, p. 146, article from a research journal).
The Post-Classic period is between 900 CE and the Spanish conquest.
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21 And Alma sent spies to follow the remnant of the
Amlicites, that he might know of their plans and their plots, whereby he
might guard himself against them, that he might preserve his people from
being destroyed.
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22 Now those whom he had sent out to watch the camp of the
Amlicites were called Zeram, and Amnor, and Manti, and Limher; these were
they who went out with their men to watch the camp of the Amlicites.
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23 And it came to pass that on the morrow they returned
into the camp of the Nephites in great haste, being greatly astonished, and
struck with much fear, saying:
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24 Behold, we followed the camp of the Amlicites, and to
our great astonishment, in the land of Minon, above the land of Zarahemla, in
the course of the land of Nephi, we saw a numerous host of the Lamanites; and
behold, the Amlicites have joined them;
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25 And they are upon our brethren in that land; and they
are fleeing before them with their flocks, and their wives, and their
children, towards our city; and except we make haste they obtain possession
of our city, and our fathers, and our wives, and our children be slain.
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26 And it came to pass that the people of Nephi took their
tents, and departed out of the valley of Gideon towards their city, which was
the city of Zarahemla.
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27 And behold, as they were crossing the river Sidon, the
Lamanites and the Amlicites, being as numerous almost, as it were, as the
sands of the sea, came upon them to destroy them.
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28 Nevertheless, the Nephites being strengthened by the
hand of the Lord, having prayed mightily to him that he would deliver them
out of the hands of their enemies, therefore the Lord did hear their cries,
and did strengthen them, and the Lamanites and the Amlicites did fall before
them.
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29 And it came to pass that Alma fought with Amlici with
the sword, face to face; and they did contend mightily, one with
another.
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Alma 2:29-32
Consider the odds of this.
Alma was not only the chief judge and governor of the Nephite nation (Alma
2:16) and high priest of the Church (Mosiah 29:42), it also seems he was a
capable warrior.
Add to this the unlikely event that the leaders of these two factions within
the Nephites (Amlicites and the rest of the Nephites) would actually do
one-on-one battle with one another. Consider the size of these armies - the
previous day there were 12,532 Amlicites killed in battle and 6,562 Nephites
killed in battle (Alma 2:19). These extensive fatalities indicate armies of
even more massive numbers, yet these top leaders of each faction end up doing
direct, one-on-one battle with each other.
Then, when Alma has killed Amlici, he goes on to actually battle directly,
one-on-one with the King of the Lamanites (Alma 2:32).
Also, notice the use of the word “sword” in verses 29 and
31. The only pre-Columbian weapon I can find that was similar to a sword was
the macuahuitl which was made with a plank of wood similar in shape to a
cricket bat with obsidian blades mounted on the edges. It is similar enough
to a sword that it is often referred to as the Aztec sword.
However, the macuahuitl does not seem to fit the Book of
Mormon time frame. “Some groups of Central Mexico, principally in the
transition between the Early and the Late Post-Classic, probably
developed this weapon” (emphasis added, Dr. Marco Antonio Cervera Obregón,
“The macuahuitl: an innovative weapon of the Late Post-Classic in
Mesoamerica”, Arms & Armour, Vol.3, Nov. 2, 2006, p. 146, article from a research journal).
The Post-Classic period is between 900 CE and the Spanish conquest.
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30 And it came to pass that Alma, being a man of God,
being exercised with much faith, cried, saying: O Lord, have mercy and spare
my life, that I may be an instrument in thy hands to save and preserve this
people.
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Annotation for Alma 2:29-32 above
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31 Now when Alma had said these words he contended again
with Amlici; and he was strengthened, insomuch that he slew Amlici with the sword.
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Annotation for Alma 2:29-32 above
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32 And he also contended with the king of the Lamanites;
but the king of the Lamanites fled back from before Alma and sent his guards
to contend with Alma.
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Annotation for Alma 2:29-32 above
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33 But Alma, with his guards, contended with the guards of
the king of the Lamanites until he slew and drove them back.
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34 And thus he cleared the ground, or rather the bank,
which was on the west of the river Sidon, throwing the bodies of the
Lamanites who had been slain into the waters of Sidon, that thereby his
people might have room to cross and contend with the Lamanites and the
Amlicites on the west side of the river Sidon.
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35 And it came to pass that when they had all crossed the
river Sidon that the Lamanites and the Amlicites began to flee before them,
notwithstanding they were so numerous that they could not be numbered.
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36 And they fled before the Nephites towards the wilderness
which was west and north, away beyond the borders of the land; and the
Nephites did pursue them with their might, and did slay them.
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37 Yea, they were met on every hand, and slain and driven,
until they were scattered on the west, and on the north, until they had
reached the wilderness, which was called Hermounts; and it was that part of
the wilderness which was infested by wild and ravenous beasts.
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38 And it came to pass that many died in the wilderness of
their wounds, and were devoured by those beasts and also the vultures of the
air; and their bones have been found, and have been heaped up on the earth.
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