THE BOOK OF HELAMANAn account of the Nephites. Their wars and contentions, and their dissensions. And also the prophecies of many holy prophets, before the coming of Christ, according to the records of Helaman, who was the son of Helaman and also according to the records of his sons even down to the coming of Christ. And also may of the Lamanites are converted. An account of their conversions. An account of the righteousness of the Lamanites, and the wickedness and abominations of the Nephites, according to the record of Helaman and his sons, even down to the coming of Christ, which is called the book of Helaman. |
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CHAPTER 1 Pahoran the second becomes chief judge and is murdered by Kishkumen—Pacumeni fills the judgement-seat—Coriantumr leads the Lamanite armies, takes Zarahemla, and slays Pacumeni—Moronihah defeats the Lamanites and retakes Zarahemla, and Coriantumr is slain. [Between 52 and 51 B.C.] |
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1 AND now behold, it came to pass in the
*commencement of the fortieth year of the reign of the
judges over the people of Nephi, there began to be a serious difficulty among
the people of the Nephites.
2 For behold, aPahoran had died, and gone the way of all the earth; therefore there began to be a serious contention concerning who should have the judgment-seat among the brethren, who were the sons of Pahoran.
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1*
[52 B.C.] 2a Alma 50:40
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3 Now these are their names who did contend for the
judgment-seat, who did also cause the people to contend: Pahoran,
Paanchi, and Pacumeni.
4 Now these are not all the sons of Pahoran, (for he had many) but these are they who did contend for the judgment-seat; therefore, they did cause three adivisions among the people. 5 Nevertheless, it came to pass that Pahoran was appointed by the avoice of the people to be chief judge and a governor over the people of Nephi.
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4a
Matt. 12:25 5a Mosiah 29:11; Alma 51:7; Hel. 5:2
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6 And it came to pass that Pacumeni, when he saw that he could not
obtain the judgment-seat, he did aunite with the voice of
the people.
7 But behold, Paanchi, and that part of the people that were desirous that he should be their governor, was exceedingly wroth; therefore, he was about to aflatter away those people to rise up in rebellion against their brethren. 8 And it came to pass as he was about to do this, behold, he was taken, and was tried according to the avoice of the people, and condemned unto death; for he had raised up in rebellion and sought to destroy the bliberty of the people.
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6a
TG
Unity 7a Mosiah 27:8; Alma 50:35; Hel. 2:5; Ether 8:2 8a Alma 1:14 (10-15) b TG Liberty
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9 Now when those people who were desirous that he should be their
governor saw that he was condemned unto death, therefore they were angry, and
behold, they sent forth one aKishkumen, even to the
judgment-seat of Pahoran, and murdered Pahoran as he sat upon the
judgment-seat.
10 And he was pursued by the servants of Pahoran; but behold, so speedy was the flight of Kishkumen that no man could overtake him. 11 And he went unto those that sent him, and they all entered into a covenant, yea, aswearing by their everlasting Maker, that they would tell no man that Kishkumen had murdered Pahoran.
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9a
Hel. 2:3 11a Gen. 24:3; Ehter 8:14 (13-14)
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12 Therefore, Kishkumen was not known among the people of Nephi, for
he was in disguise at the time that he murdered Pahoran. And Kishkumen and
his band, who had covenanted with him, did mingle themselves among the
people, in a manner that they all could not be found; but as many as were
found were condemned unto adeath.
13 And now behold, Pacumeni was appointed, according to the avoice of the people, to be a chief judge and a governor over the people, to reign in the stead of his brother Pahoran; and it was according to his right. And all this was done in the fortieth year of the reign of the judges; and it had an end.
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12a
TG
Capital Punishment 13a Hel. 1:5; Hel. 2:2
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14 And it came to pass in the *forty and first year
of the reign of the judges, that the Lamanites had gathered together an
innumerable army of men, and aarmed them with swords, and
with cimeters and with bows, and with arrows, and with head-plates, and with
breastplates, and with all manner of shields of every kind.
15 And they came down again that they might pitch battle against the Nephites. And they were led by a man whose name was aCoriantumr; and he was a descendant of Zarahemlaa; and he was a bdissenter from among the Nephites; and he was a large and a mighty man.
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15a Coriantumr; and he was a descendant of Zarahemla Being a descendant of Zarahemla might well make Coriantumr one of those 'Nephites of high birth', who was counted among the kingmen who desired a king and thinking themselves to obtain a high position in the kingdom. |
14*
[51 B.C.] a Alma 2:12; Alma 49:6, 24 15a Hel. 1:30 b Alma 31:8; Alma 53:8; Hel. 4:8
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16 Therefore, the king of the Lamanites, whose name was Tubaloth, who
was the son of aAmmoron, supposing that Coriantumr, being a
mighty man, could stand against the Nephites, with his strength and also with
his great
bwisdoma, insomuch
that by sending him forth he should gain power over the Nephites—
17 Therefore he did astir them up to anger, and he did gather together his armies, and he did appoint Coriantumr to be their leader, and did cause that they should march down to the land of Zarahemla to battle against the Nephites.
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16a his great wisdom Often he who is out spoken and give the 'air' of knowing is thought to be one of great wisdom. Coriantumr being a descendant of Zarahmela may well have been from that very region of land which was the more capital parts of the land of Zarahemla. He may have known well the lay of the land. He may have stated that those who lived in those central and capital parts of the land were of such and such nature and either easily defeated or intreated to the cause of the Lamanites. Whatever the case, it seems to be Coriantumr's 'wise plan' to attack Zarahemla directly. But what seems to be 'wisdom' of 'wise men' often becomes the folly of foolishness, as Coriantumr but plunges his armies into the center of the Nephites to be surrounded by the armies of Lehi and Moronihah to his great disadvantage. |
16a
Alma 52:3 b Ezek. 28:5 (4-5) 17a Alma 35:10; Alma 47:1
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18 And it came to pass that because of so much contention and so
much difficulty in the government, that they had not kept
sufficient guards in the land of Zarahemla; for they had supposed
that the Lamanites durst not come into the heart of their lands
to attack that great city Zarahemla.
19 But it came to pass that Coriantumr did march forth at the head of his numerous host, and came upon the inhabitants of the city, and their march was with such exceedingly great speed that there was no time for the Nephites to gather together their armiesa. 20 Therefore Coriantumr did cut down the watch by the entrance of the city, and did march forth with his whole army into the city, and they did slay every one who did oppose them, insomuch that they did take possession of the whole city.
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19a their march was with such exceedingly great speed that there was no time for the Nephites to gather together their armies Considering that the southeast sector of Antionum of the Zoramites had discented over unto the Lamanites, there is two possible routes for the Lamanite armies of Coriantumr to have marched upon Zarahemla, [1] If the traditional route were taken, they could have by passed Manti and Minon by marching through the wilderness sides of the upper Sidon valley until the reached Zarahemla. Or, [2] they could have used the land of north Antionum as their staging area, and through the porous southern plains of Nephihah and in the wilderness sides of the valley of Gideon until they reached Zarahemla. | |
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21 And it came to pass that Pacumeni, who was the chief judge,
did flee before Coriantumr, even to the walls of the city. And
it came to pass that Coriantumr did smite him against the wall,
insomuch that he died. And thus ended the days of Pacumeni.
22 And now when Coriantumr saw that he was in possession of the city of Zarahemla, and saw that the Nephites had fled before them, and were slain, and were taken, and were cast into prison, and that he had obtained the possession of the strongest hold in all the land, his heart atook courage insomuch that he was about to go forth against all the land.
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22a
TG
Pride
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23 And now he did not tarry in the land of Zarahemla, but he
did march forth with a large army, even towards the city of
aBountifula; for it
was his determination to go forth and cut his way through with the sword,
that he might obtain the north parts of the
landa.
24 And, supposing that their greatest strength was in the center of the land, therefore he did march forth, giving them no time to assemble themselves together save it were in small bodies; and in this manner they did fall upon them and cut them down to the earth. 25 But behold, this march of Coriantumr through the center of the landa gave Moronihah great advantage over them, notwithstanding the greatness of the number of the Nephites who were slain.
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23a he did march forth with a large army,
even towards the city of Bountiful ... that he might obtain the north parts
of the land From the 'heart' or center of the land, the city of
Zarahemla, Coriantumr did march north following the course of the Sidon
Valley, slaughtering men, women and children and taking possesion of many
cities and strongholds all along the way between Zarahemla and Bountiful.
The concept of obtaining the northern parts of the land, is that during the
'seige' of Amalekiah and Ammoron, they had the strategic surrounding quarters
of the land, Antionum through dissention, the south-western quarter of
Manti, Cumeni, Zeezrom and Antiparah, and the north-eastern quarer of Moroni,
Lehi, Omni, Gid. Morianton and Mulek; and it availed them nothing. because
the Nephites controled the central capital and northern parts of the land.
Now if the Lamanites could first take these land, could they not defend them
as the Nephites had done? And they would have their access to the lands north
of the narrow neck as well.
25a this march of Coriantumr through the center of the land Now the Sidon Valley was the center of the populated land. It lay between the eastern cordilleras and the central cordillers. To the west was the parallel populated valley which laid between the western cordillers and the centeral cordillers. In that valley laid such as Judea on the south reaches, Melek in the center and Ammonihah in the north. The Lamanites never again attempted to take Ammoniah nor Noah as these proved too formidable. Further to the west was the wilderness of the western cordillers which fell down into the mangrove swamp lands of the western coast which received over 300 inches of rain a year. To the east of the central lands was the plains of Nephihah and the coastal cities of defense. Those lands were accessible through the valley of Gideon. Thus of the three populated zones running east-west, Zarahemla and the Sidon Valley sat in the middle or center between the eastern regions of Aaron, Nephihah, and the eastern coastal cities of defense and the parallel western valley of Judea, Melek and Ammonihah. To the south of Zarhamela was Manti in the head waters of Sidon and them Minon. Both of which Coriantumr avoided by marching rapidly through the wilderness sides of the land. To the north lay all the captial part of the land between Zarahemla and Bountiful which Coriantumr had taken his further march through since taking the city of Zarahemla. |
23a
Alma 22:29
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26 For behold, Moronihah had supposed that the Lamanites durst
not come into the center of the land, but that they would attack
the cities round about in the borders as they had hitherto done;
therefore Moronihah had caused that their strong armies should
maintain those parts round about by the borders.
27 But behold, the Lamanites were not frightened according to his desire, but they had come into the center of the land, and had taken the capital city which was the city of Zarahemla, and were marching through the most capital parts of the landa, slaying the people with a great slaughter, both men, women, and children, taking possession of many cities and of many strongholdsa.
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27a were marching through the most capital part of the land ... taking possession of many cities and of many strongholds Bountiful was north of Zarahemla. Zarahemla was in the central Sidon River Valley, mid-river. Bountiful was upon the east shore line of the narrow neck. Here then is was lay in the lower Sidon Valley, following the course of the river, round about to the land of Bountiful. And thus we see that this land of many cities and strongholds was considered the capital parts of the land, though we have not been given the names of these cities and lands in the abridged Book of Mormon record. | |
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28 But when Moronihah had discovered this, he immediately sent forth
Lehi with an army round about to ahead them before
they should come to the land
Bountifula.
29 And thus he did; and he did head them before they came to the land Bountiful, and gave unto them battle, insomuch that they began to retreat back towards the land of Zarahemla. 30 And it came to pass that Moronihah did head them in their retreat, and did give unto them battle, insomuch that it became an exceedingly bloody battle; yea, many were slain, and among the number who were slain aCoriantumr was also found.
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28a Lehi with an army round about to head them before they should come to the land of Bountiful Since it states that Lehi's army traveled 'round about', it may be presumed that Lehi's armies were likely guarding the cities of the north-eastern quarter of the land which would have consisted of the plains of Nephihah, and all the cities round about of Moroni, Lehi, Morianton, Omner, Gid and Mulek by the seashore. Moronihah may have been in the strategic southwestern quarter of the land of Manti, Cumeni, Zeezoram, Antiparah and Judea. Moronihah's line of communication to Lehi would have been from Manti on the east side of the Sidon and on through the valley of Gideon. A Nephite communicative runner system could have made distance in good time. Then Lehi would have marched from the 'Jershon quarter' directly along the sea shore cites to Bountiful heading the advancing army of Coriantumr, which was taking the time to take possession of cities and stronghold along his central lands route. Moronihah would have then come upon upon Coriantumr's army in the rear by traveling on down north through the Sidon Valley behind him. Coriantumr would be caught surrounded by Lehi on the north, Moronihah upon the south and the central and eastern cordillera mountain ranges upon his west and east. |
28a
Alma 50:34;
Alma 51:29-30 30a Hel. 1:15
(Moroni in Manti Quater Lehi in Jershon Quarter)  (Moroni & Lehi in Jershon Quarer)  |
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31 And now, behold, the Lamanites could not retreat either way,
neither on the north, nor on the south, nor on the east, nor on
the west, for they were surrounded on every hand by the Nephites.
32 And thus had Coriantumr plunged the Lamanites into the midst of the Nephites, insomuch that they were in the power of the Nephites, and he himself was slain, and the Lamanites did ayield themselves into the hands of the Nephites.
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32a
Hel. 4:3
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33 And it came to pass that Moronihah took possession of the city of
Zarahemla again, and caused that the Lamanites who had been taken
prisoners should depart out of the land in
apeacea.
34 And thus ended the forty and first year of the reign of the judges.
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33a caused that the Lamanites who had been taken prisoners should depart out of the land in peace It was the righteous and proper thing to do. And in one sense it may have had a cerain pyschological effect of fear to return to battle in the Lamanites released. But of all the times in which the Nephites continued to merely 'let the surrendering Lamanite armies go free', one has to wonder what would the effects have been if the Lamanite armies which had one after the other continued to fight against the Nephites had just gone to war and never returned, what would that effect have been upon the Lamanite psychi? Would it have caused greater fear and less of a tendancy to continue to return to battle the Nephites? or would it have just cause a stronger revenge and hatred factor. Certainly, such action of 'extermination' of invading forces would not have set well upon the religeous consciencous of the Christain Nephites. And perhaps that would have been the most devastating effect of all, It working to harden the hearts of the Nephites even faster than their otherwise pride in prosperity and wickedness. |
33a
Alma 44:15
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| * Verse 1 [52 B.C.]; * Verse 4 [51 B.C.]. | ||
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