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Annotations |
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Chapter 57
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There are some interesting similarities between the 2,000
stripling warriors in this chapter and the soldiers at the Battle of Trenton
led by General George Washington on 26 Dec 1776. Washington’s forces were
2,400 strong. Only two died, and their deaths were by hypothermia, not from
battle wounds. They had even planned to use a 1,900-man diversionary force,
but that force did not make it across the Delaware River.
(Battles of Trenton and Princeton).
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1 And now it came to pass that I received an epistle from
Ammoron, the king, stating that if I would deliver up those prisoners of war
whom we had taken that he would deliver up the city of Antiparah unto us.
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2 But I sent an epistle unto the king, that we were sure
our forces were sufficient to take the city of Antiparah by our force; and by
delivering up the prisoners for that city we should suppose ourselves unwise,
and that we would only deliver up our prisoners on exchange.
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3 And Ammoron refused mine epistle, for he would not
exchange prisoners; therefore we began to make preparations to go against the
city of Antiparah.
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4 But the people of Antiparah did leave the city, and fled
to their other cities, which they had possession of, to fortify them; and
thus the city of Antiparah fell into our hands.
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5 And thus ended the twenty and eighth year of the reign
of the judges.
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6 And it came to pass that in the commencement of the
twenty and ninth year, we received a supply of provisions, and also an
addition to our army, from the land of Zarahemla, and from the land round
about, to the number of six thousand men, besides sixty of the sons of the
Ammonites who had come to join their brethren, my little band of two
thousand. And now behold, we were strong, yea, and we had also plenty of
provisions brought unto us.
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7 And it came to pass that it was our desire to wage a
battle with the army which was placed to protect the city Cumeni.
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8 And now behold, I will show unto you that we soon
accomplished our desire; yea, with our strong force, or with a part of our
strong force, we did surround, by night, the city Cumeni, a little before
they were to receive a supply of provisions.
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9 And it came to pass that we did camp round about the
city for many nights; but we did sleep upon our swords, and keep
guards, that the Lamanites could not come upon us by night and slay us, which
they attempted many times; but as many times as they attempted this their
blood was spilt.
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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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10 At length their provisions did arrive, and they were
about to enter the city by night. And we, instead of being Lamanites, were
Nephites; therefore, we did take them and their provisions.
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11 And notwithstanding the Lamanites being cut off from
their support after this manner, they were still determined to maintain the
city; therefore it became expedient that we should take those provisions and
send them to Judea, and our prisoners to the land of Zarahemla.
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12 And it came to pass that not many days had passed away
before the Lamanites began to lose all hopes of succor; therefore they
yielded up the city unto our hands; and thus we had accomplished our designs
in obtaining the city Cumeni.
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13 But it came to pass that our prisoners were so numerous
that, notwithstanding the enormity of our numbers, we were obliged to employ
all our force to keep them, or to put them to death.
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14 For behold, they would break out in great numbers, and
would fight with stones, and with clubs, or whatsoever thing they could get
into their hands, insomuch that we did slay upwards of two thousand of them
after they had surrendered themselves prisoners of war.
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15 Therefore it became expedient for us, that we should
put an end to their lives, or guard them, sword in hand, down to the
land of Zarahemla; and also our provisions were not any more than sufficient
for our own people, notwithstanding that which we had taken from the
Lamanites.
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Alma 57:15, 23, 33
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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16 And now, in those critical circumstances, it became a
very serious matter to determine concerning these prisoners of war;
nevertheless, we did resolve to send them down to the land of Zarahemla;
therefore we selected a part of our men, and gave them charge over our
prisoners to go down to the land of Zarahemla.
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17 But it came to pass that on the morrow they did return.
And now behold, we did not inquire of them concerning the prisoners; for
behold, the Lamanites were upon us, and they returned in season to save us
from falling into their hands. For behold, Ammoron had sent to their support
a new supply of provisions and also a numerous army of men.
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18 And it came to pass that those men whom we sent with
the prisoners did arrive in season to check them, as they were about to
overpower us.
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19 But behold, my little band of two thousand and sixty
fought most desperately; yea, they were firm before the Lamanites, and did
administer death unto all those who opposed them.
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20 And as the remainder of our army were about to give way
before the Lamanites, behold, those two thousand and sixty were firm and
undaunted.
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21 Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every
word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was
done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that
their mothers had taught them.
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22 And now behold, it was these my sons, and those men who
had been selected to convey the prisoners, to whom we owe this great victory;
for it was they who did beat the Lamanites; therefore they were driven back
to the city of Manti.
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23 And we retained our city Cumeni, and were not all
destroyed by the sword; nevertheless, we had suffered great loss.
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Annotation for Alma 57:15, 23, 33 above
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24 And it came to pass that after the Lamanites had fled,
I immediately gave orders that my men who had been wounded should be taken
from among the dead, and caused that their wounds should be dressed.
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25 And it came to pass that there were two hundred, out of
my two thousand and sixty, who had fainted because of the loss of blood;
nevertheless, according to the goodness of God, and to our great
astonishment, and also the joy of our whole army, there was not one soul
of them who did perish; yea, and neither was there one soul among them
who had not received many wounds.
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Alma 57:25-26
Because of their faith, they believed they would be delivered from temporal
death. Doesn’t this contradict Alma 60:12-13?
12 Do ye suppose that, because so many of your brethren have been killed
it is because of their wickedness? I say unto you, if ye have supposed this
ye have supposed in vain; for I say unto you, there are many who have fallen
by the sword; and behold it is to your condemnation;
13 For the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain that his justice and
judgment may come upon the wicked; therefore ye need not suppose that the
righteous are lost because they are slain; but behold, they do enter into the
rest of the Lord their God.
History shows repeatedly that even the most faithful are often killed in battle.
Why were these stripling fighters spared, but other faithful believers are
not? How would this variation between those who are spared and those who are
not be different in a world with no intervening God?
Sometimes when the problem of evil is expressed, apologists will argue that
God allows evil to be perpetrated because he values moral agency so much that
he will not intercede on behalf of the victim out of respect for the agency
of the perpetrator.
Hopefully most will find this idea of unwillingness to intercede repugnant
without further explanation. However, for those needing more explanation,
notice that this verse actually affirms that God will intercede to prevent
wickedness.
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26 And now, their preservation was astonishing to our
whole army, yea, that they should be spared while there was a thousand of our
brethren who were slain. And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous
power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had
been taught to believe—that there was a just God, and whosoever did not
doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power.
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Annotation for Alma 57:25-26 above
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27 Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken;
they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually.
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28 And now it came to pass that after we had thus taken
care of our wounded men, and had buried our dead and also the dead of the
Lamanites, who were many, behold, we did inquire of Gid concerning the
prisoners whom they had started to go down to the land of Zarahemla with.
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29 Now Gid was the chief captain over the band who was
appointed to guard them down to the land.
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30 And now, these are the words which Gid said unto me:
Behold, we did start to go down to the land of Zarahemla with our prisoners.
And it came to pass that we did meet the spies of our armies, who had been
sent out to watch the camp of the Lamanites.
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31 And they cried unto us, saying—Behold, the armies of
the Lamanites are marching towards the city of Cumeni; and behold, they will
fall upon them, yea, and will destroy our people.
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32 And it came to pass that our prisoners did hear their
cries, which caused them to take courage; and they did rise up in rebellion
against us.
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33 And it came to pass because of their rebellion we did
cause that our swords should come upon them. And it came to pass that
they did in a body run upon our swords, in the which, the greater
number of them were slain; and the remainder of them broke through and fled
from us.
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Annotation for Alma 57:15, 23, 33 above
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34 And behold, when they had fled and we could not
overtake them, we took our march with speed towards the city Cumeni; and
behold, we did arrive in time that we might assist our brethren in preserving
the city.
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35 And behold, we are again delivered out of the hands of
our enemies. And blessed is the name of our God; for behold, it is he that
has delivered us; yea, that has done this great thing for us.
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36 Now it came to pass that when I, Helaman, had heard
these words of Gid, I was filled with exceeding joy because of the
goodness of God in preserving us, that we might not all perish; yea, and
I trust that the souls of them who have been slain have entered into the rest
of their God.
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Sometimes when the problem of evil is expressed, apologists
will argue that God allows evil to be perpetrated because he values moral
agency so much that he will not intercede on behalf of the victim out of
respect for the agency of the perpetrator.
Hopefully most will find this idea of unwillingness to intercede repugnant
without further explanation. However, for those needing more explanation,
notice that this verse actually affirms that God will intercede to prevent
wickedness.
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