Book of Mormon Commentary - Mormon 2

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 2 Mormon leads the Nephite armies—Blood and carnage sweep the land—The Nephites lament and mourn with the sorrowing of the damned—Their day of grace is passed—Mormon obtains the plates of Nephi—Wars continue. [Between A.D. 327 and 350]	Young 16 year old Mormon takes over the leadership of teh Nephite armies—Blood and carnage sweep the whole of the national lands of Zarahemla—The Nephites lament and mourn with the sorrowing of the damned and not the repentant—They have rippened in their sins and the day of grace unto repentance is passed—Mormon at about age 24 obtains the plates of Nephi from the hill Shim as instructed by Ammaron—After about a 14 year period of relative peace the wars resume and eventually effect Mormon then 'retired' to record keeping in the land northward. [Between A.D. 327 and 350]
1 AND it came to pass in that same year there began to be a war again between the Nephites and the Lamanites. And notwithstanding I being ^ayoung, was large in stature; therefore the people of Nephi appointed me that I should be their leader, or the leader of their armies^a. 2 Therefore it came to pass that *in my sixteenth year^a I did go forth at the head of an army of the Nephites, against the Lamanites; therefore three hundred and twenty and six years had passed away.	1^a notwithstanding I being young, was large in stature; therefore the people of Nephi appointed me that I should be their leader, or the leader of their armies Certainly there is more to the story than just a big 15 year old kid. Mormon in his modesty in making his abridgment has left out much. Elsewhere the Book of Mormon states: ' ... it was the custom among all the Nephites to appoint for their chief captains ... some one that had the spirit of revelation and also prophecy ... " (3 Nephi 3:19). This more than likely fills in some of the blanks as to the nature of not only young Mormon, but also Mormon's father Mormon. For a 16 year old kid from the north to have such a high status and 'honor' to be selected to head the whole of the Nephite armies while only being in the land from age 11 to 16 we must certainly suppose that his family was one of some notariety. Could the elder Mormon have been a prophet or even a prophet warior like was the relationship between Captain Moroni and Moronihah? And why did Mormon's father Mormon travel to Zarahemla just at the time of the outbreak of war? Was he not a 'prophet leader' also. And had he died or became wounded and disabled during the first renewed outbreak of the Nephite and Lamanite wars of 322 to 326 A.D. And therefore could this be the reason why Mormon was so particularly selected at the tender age of 16? Even the great Captain Moroni was at the age of 25 when he was first selected. Just why so young and such a emphasis of selection place on this big kid Mormon? The miltary and leadership of the Nephites would have had to been well aquianted with such a young lad for some particular reason for such a selection to be made which Mormon merely passes off as it being because he was large in stature unless of course this largeness of stature extended beyond just physical size to include staning in the Nephite world and the world of the Nephite armies. How else would one state that he was an 'army brat' who had become well entrenched in the arts of war and therefore so recognized by the Nephites to be placed as the Captain of all the Nephite armies? 2^a in my sixteenth year Now my own dad did inlist in his 16^th year joining the army to fight in Mexico as a part of World War I. But as far as an actual birth date, he was yet 15 years old. And thus care must be taken when reading, for Mormon does not state that he was 16 years out. But a person's 16^th year of life is that which begin at age 15 until a person had lived out the full 16^th year. Thus both my dad and Mormon did have their 16^th birthday while serving in the military, both being enlisted prior to that date of determination.	1^a Morm. 1:15 (12, 15-16) 2* [A.D. 327-328]
16 Year Old Mormon Leads Nephite Army ~ 327 A.D. ~
3 And it came to pass that in the three hundred and twenty and seventh year the Lamanites did come upon us with ^aexceedingly great power, insomuch that they did frighten my armies; therefore they would not fight, and they began to retreat towards the ^bnorth countries^a. 4 And it came to pass that we did come to the city of Angola^a, and we did take possession of the city, and make preparations to defend ourselves against the Lamanites. And it came to pass that we did ^afortify the city with our might; but notwithstanding all our fortifications the Lamanites did come upon us and did drive us out of the city. 5 And they did also drive us forth out of the land of David^a.	3^a they began to retreat towards the north countries Now from whence does one 'begin' to retreat? One suggested point of beginning of such a retreat toward the north would seem to be from out of the capital city and immediate provincal capital of the land, provincial Zarahemla NOT national Zarahemla which would include the all of the land including Bountiful. And since this is just the beginning of that retreat and since they are not yet gone into the north countries but are merely retreating towards them, it must be considered that what follows, in the same paragraph in the 1830 Book of Mormon, takes place still in the land southward, and between Zarahemla and what would be the last land of actual departure from the nation of Zarahemla, Bountiful. 4^a the city of Angola Now the Book of Mormon in Mormon's abridgment give no details as to the city of Angola saving those of context and what may be presumed. Mormon's retreat was 'toward the north countries' meaning that they had not so entered into such but remained still south of Bountiful and the narrow pass which was the last land and last great city before that departure. But since this was Mormon's retreat toward that destination through which he would have had to pass to the north countries, it is presumed that Angola was between the great cities of Zarhamela and Bountiful in what has previously been called the 'more capital parts of the land' which held many cities (Helaman 1:22-27). 5^a And they did also drive us forth out of the land of David In the 1830 Book of Mormon this 'And' sentence is part of the same paragraph as the preveious verse, thus it may be considered as a logical extension of the thought of that previous statement which states that the Lamanites did drive Mormon out of the city of Angola (Angelah per the 1830 edition) and thence out of the land of David. This would seem to place Angola in the land of David and that the land of David may well be that land or one of those lands which were in the 'capital parts of the land' in its heart between Zarahmela and Bountiful.	3^a Morm. 4:13 (13-17); Morm. 5:6 ^b Alma 50:11; Morm. 2:29 4^a 3 Ne. 3:14 (14, 25); Morm. 2:21
6 And we marched forth and came to the land of Joshua, which was in the borders west by the seashore^a. 7 And it came to pass that we did gather in our people as fast as it were possible, that we might get them together in ^aone body. 8 But behold, the land was ^afilled with ^brobbers and with Lamanites^a; and notwithstanding the great destruction which hung over my people, they did not repent of their evil doings; therefore there was blood and carnage spread throughout all the face of the land, both on the part of the Nephites and also on the part of the Lamanites; and it was one complete revolution throughout all the face of the land.	6^a And we marched forth and came to the land of Joshua, which was in the borders west by the seashore In the context of the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon, this is still in that same continuous paragraph which would associate the land of Joshua as being next after the land of David from which Mormon's armies had just come out of. Some readers take the illogical giant step of breaching the narrow neck beyond and past the land of Bountiful and on up into the land northward in their placement of the land of Joshua. This is NOT what the Book of Mormon states. It reads that Mormon's armies were driven out of the land of David 'and' they did apparently per what the Book of Mormon states march west to the land of Joshua which was west by the west sea, and NOT north on toward the narrow neck's common eastern passage in the land of Bountiful. It may be considerd that this was a strategic ploy by Mormon to draw the Lamanite army after him to the west seashore rather than to proceed north and thus into the countries northward and north of the narrow neck. Thus one might well associate this land of Joshua to still be south of the land of Bountiful but upon that north western shore line upon which Lehi did originally landed according to the word of the prophet Joseph Smith (TPJS page 267). 8^a the land was filled with robbers and with Lamanites This description of the land being filled with Lamanites would certainly NOT be compatible with considering that the land north of the narrow neck of land was at this point in time 'filled with Lamanites'. Thus the logic confirms that Mormon in the land of Joshua was still south of Bountiful and the narrow neck defenses because the Lamanites have to first take the nation of Zarahemla before they could venture to take any such general occupation of the lands north of the narrow neck.	7^a 3 Ne. 3:22 (22-25) 8^a 3 Ne. 2:11 ^b 4 Ne. 1:46; Morm. 8:9; Ether 8:20
19-20 Year Old Mormon Delivers Nephites the First Time ~ 330-331 A.D. ~
9 And now, the Lamanites had a king, and his name was ^aAaron^a; and he came against us with an army of forty and four thousand. And behold, I withstood him with forty and two thousand. And it came to pass that I beat him with my army that he fled before me. And behold, all this was done, and ^*three hundred and thirty years had passed away.	9^a the Lamanites had a king, and his name was Aaron Now Mormon was only age 19-20 in 330 A.D., when he so defeated king Aaron and the Lamanities this first time. And Mormon's highly condensed abridgment does not detail any real circumstances concerning this king Aaron and Mormon. But it does seem significant that it was king Aaron of the Lamanties who does reappear momentarily in Mormon's letter account to Moroni concerning matters which were likely about Jordan some 45 years later at age 64-65 at about 375 A.D. (See Moroni 9:17 and Commentary Mormon 5:3). Thus the relationship between Mormon and the Lamanite king may well have extended through the years and makes one wonder if Aaron was still the Lamanite king who granted unto Mormon the privilage of a years time to gather all the remaining Nephites to one great last battle at the hill Cumorah in 385 A.D., still some 10 years passed the last mentioned occurance of the name of Aaron.	9^a Moro. 9:17 ^* [A.D. 331]
~ 331 A.D. ~ Lamanites Defeated and Peace The war had raged for four to five years, from 326 A.D. to 331 A.D. (330 years had passed away thus in the 331^st year). and young Mormon had aged from 15 (being in his 16th year) to 19-20 years of age. And though the record of Mormon does not set it out plainly, there will now be some 14+ years of peace, until Mormon has reached the age of 33-34 years. During this time Mormon did not remain in the land of Zarahemla. His 24^th year would have come and by then he would have removed back to the land northward to obtain the plates as instructed by Ammoron (Mormon 1:3), which he will later state that he 'had' done (Mormon 2:17), but later within the context of the next war. Thus one has to read and understand what is being said next. The next war with the Lamanites DOES NOT begin with Mormon as the Nephite leader. He will not be picked back up as the Nephite army leader until after the Lamanites have subdued all of Zarahemla and are enroute toward Mormon who is in the land northward near the location of where the records are located in the hill Shim. And he is by by now living a family life with a wife and at least one son named Moroni.
10 And it came to pass that the Nephites began to repent of their iniquity, and began to cry even as had been prophesied by Samuel the prophet; for behold no man could ^akeep that which was his own, for the thieves, and the robbers, and the murderers, and the magic art, and the witchcraft which was in the land. 11 Thus there began to be a ^amourning and a lamentation in all the land because of these things, and more especially among the people of Nephi. 12 And it came to pass that when I, Mormon, saw their lamentation and their ^amourning and their sorrow before the Lord, my heart did begin to rejoice within me, knowing the mercies and the long-suffering of the Lord, therefore supposing that he would be merciful unto them that they would ^bagain become a righteous people.		10^a Hel. 12:18: Hel. 13:18 (17-23): Morm. 1:18 (17-19); Ether 14:1 (1-2) 11^a 3 Ne. 12:4 12^a TG Mourning ^b Hel. 11:9 (8-17) If Not the Lamanites It is the Robbers After the defeat of the Lamanites in 330 A.D., the Nephites of Zarahemla DID NOT have a 'reprive'. Yes they had been afflicted by the Lamanties but in their absence for the next extended period of time, the Nephites as still continually pestered by the 'Robbers'. It is like being out of the frying pan and still jumping into the fire. There just was no relief. And Mormon thoughts, now age 20+, would have turned to home in the north and to his own interests and also that of considering what Ammaron had instructed of him to do at age 24. He had completed his present task as military leader and 'retired' to the land northward ner Antum and the hill Shim.
13 But behold this my joy was vain, for their ^asorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the ^bsorrowing of the ^cdamned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take ^dhappiness in sin. 14 And they did not come unto Jesus with broken ^ahearts and contrite spirits, but they did ^bcurse God, and wish to die. Nevertheless they would struggle with the sword for their lives. 15 And it came to pass that my sorrow did return unto me again, and I saw that the ^aday of ^bgrace ^cwas passed with them, both temporally and spiritually; for I saw thousands of them hewn down in open ^drebellion against their God^a, and heaped up as ^edung upon the face of the land. And thus ^*three hundred and forty and four years had passed away.	15^a I saw thousands of them hewn down in open rebellion against their God This unfortunate mixture of greatly condensed abridgment which seems to associate the past-tense hewing down of Mormon's forces of war, which would have been in reflection of what had happened before the defeat of king Aaron and the Lamanties in 330 A.D., to the next stated date of 344 A.D. does lead the quick read artist to an incorrect conclusion. Mormon simply gives no particular history of the people nor of his own obviously removed events, which has taken him north to extract the records from the hill Shim, during the period from 330 A.D. to 334 A.D. (when he would have obtain the plates of Nephi from the hill in the land of Antum) to this last stated date of 344 A.D., when again the sound of war will come upon him most unexpectedly and associated with him well into his 'retired life in the land of Antum' since the 334 A.D. date if not prior. In that correct context, which re-hydrates the condensed abridgment properly, it will be seen that Mormon was not a part of the Nephite armies who had at that time (345 A.D.) retreated all the way from the land of Zarahemla through the narrow neck, even unto the land of Jashon, which was near to the land of Antum where the records and Mormon had been for the passed number of years. And when Mormon does speaks of 'their' the Nephite retreat, he uses such pronouns which clearly disassociates himself from being a part of them until he finally again is compelled to re-join with them, eventaully setting up a successful defense in the land of Shem.	13^a 2 Cor. 7:10; Alma 42:29 ^b Hosea 7:14; Ether 8:7 ^c TG Damnation ^d Alma 41:10 14^a TG Contrite Heart ^b TG Blasphemy 15^a Hel. 13:38 ^b TG Grace ^c Jer. 8:20 ^d TG Rebellion ^e Jer. 8:2 (1-3) ^* [A.D. 345]
~ 332 - 344 A.D. ~ Now Mormon does not in this abridged book of Mormon particularly record is personal life. Thus it must be deduced. And so, after he had successfully defeat King Aaron and his Lamanite army in 331 A.D. Mormon did leave the employ as the military leader of the Nephites in the land of Zarahemla and he did retire unto the land northward. There we are left to presume that he did marry and have children and at about age 24 (335 A.D), Mormon did go unto the hill Shim and obtain the record according to the words of Ammaron (see verse 17). And in the land northward Mormon did remain, and his time was spent there in beginning his record, recording his history in the large plates to date and likely beginning his abridgement, beginning with the large plates book of Lehi. And it was not until 346 A.D. that Mormon did rejoin the army of the Nephites. Thus a span of some 12-14 years there had been a period of peace and living the 'normal life' rather than that of being the head of the Nephite military.
~ 345 A.D. ~ The War Begins Again With Mormon tucked away in the land northward with his records and family, the Lamanites again come upon the Nephites of Zarahemla prior to the year of their great retreat of 345 A.D. And by that year, Mormon is now about age 34, with at least ten years of being a recordkeeper and a family man. Now Mormon does not give his personal history of these years as they do not relate directly to the abridged history of the downfall of he Nephite nation. But it would most likely be during this period of 'retirement' and recordkeeping that Mormon produced his family, which among posssible others would have included his son Moroni.
16 And it came to pass that in the three hundred and forty and fifth year the Nephites did begin to flee before the Lamanites^a; and they were pursued until they came even to the land of Jashon, before it was possible to stop them in their retreat^b. 17 And now, the city of Jashon was near the ^aland where Ammaron had ^bdeposited the records unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed. And behold I had gone according to the word of Ammaron^a, and taken the ^cplates of Nephi, and did make a record according to the words of Ammaron^a.	16^a in the three hundred and forty and fifth (345) year the Nephites did begin to flee before the Lamanites From the commencement of 331 A.D. to 345 A.D. there had been not wars recorded by Mormon. There were likely skermishes and encounters with the gadiantons in the lands of Zarahemla, but Mormon was NOT there to observe them. After the defeat of the Lamanites at the end of 330 A.D. Mormon had 'retired' from being the head of the Nephite army and had returned back to his boyhood land north and gone according to the command of Ammaron and obtained the records by age 24. The careful reader of the Book of Mormon will notice that the phaseology of this verse DOES NOT include Mormon as the Nephites leader. It first states that 'the Nephites' did begin to flee before the Lamanites. These are the Nephites back down south in the national land of Zarahemla. 16^b they were pursued until they came even to the land of Jashon, before it was possible to stop them in their retreat Again Mormon is NOT includes as a party to this Nephite retreat as it states clearly twice that 'THEY' were pursued and 'THEY' came even to the land of Jashon. Now what is significant of having retreated all the way to Jashon, it that they are now on the door step of where Mormon has been living and doing as Ammaron had instructed him to do with the Nephite records. 17^a behold I had gone according to the word of Ammaron ... and did make a record according to the words of Ammaron Thus for the last some 10-14 years, Mormon had time for courtship, marriage, children (at least Moroni), and to obtain the records of Nephi and proceed to make a record according to the words of Ammaron. And Mormon was now about 34 years old, 10 years beyond the initial record pickup age and date for Mormon 'had gone according to the word of Ammaron'.	17^a Morm. 1:3 (1-4) ^b 4 Ne. 1:48-49 ^c Morm. 8:5 (1, 4-5, 14)
18 And upon the plates of Nephi I did make a full account of all the wickedness and abominations; but upon ^athese plates I did forbear to make a full account^a of their wickedness and abominations, for behold, a continual scene of wickedness and abominations has been before mine eyes ever since I have been sufficient to behold the ways of man. 19 And wo is me because of their wickedness; for my heart has been filled with sorrow because of their wickedness, all my days; nevertheless, I know that I shall be ^alifted up at the last day.	18^a upon the plates of Nephi I did make a full account of all the wickedness and abominations; but upon these plates I did forbear to make a full account Here Mormon explains the two sets of plates and that upon the Large Plates of Nephi he did make a full account, but on the 'Golden Plates' of the Book of Mormon, he did but make an abridged account, not given the gross accounts of the wickedness and abominations. Thus there is NOT any account to speak of which details the actual fall of the nation of Zarahemla other than the Lamanites attacked and the Nephites did retreat all the way north to where Mormon was about the business of keeping the Nephite records.	18^a 3 Ne. 5:15 (8-20) 19^a Mosiah 23:22; Ether 4:19
20 And it came to pass that in this year the people of Nephi again were hunted and driven. And it came to pass that we were driven forth until we had come northward to the land which was called Shem^a. 21 And it came to pass that we did ^afortify the city of Shem, and we did gather in our people as much as it were possible, that perhaps we might save them from destruction.	20^a it came to pass that we were driven forth until we had come northward to the land which was called Shem Here we now have the indication that Mormon has now again joined himself to the defense of the Nephites. He states 'WE' were driven forth until WE had come northward to Shem. Thus from about Jashon to Shem, Mormon has stepped forward and rejoined the Nephite cause in defense against the Lamanites, being brought out of his 10-14 year 'retirement' out of the necessity to once again fight against the Lamanites. And since Jashon was near Antum where the records and Mormon may presumed to have been, the Nephites now joined by Mormon are further 'DRIVEN NORTHWARD' until Mormon with them came to the land of Shem. This clearly is a statement of the Book of Mormon which places the land of Shem further north than either Jashon or Antum, which as near Jashon. Thus it is, whatever the size and arrangement of the land, Jashon is near Antum and the hill Shim and the land of Shem is further northward beyond either of them by some distance.	21^a Morm. 2:4
In 346 A.D. Mormon Rallies the Nephites to Victory At age 35, Mormon leads rallies the Nephites in defense of their wives, children, their houses (buildings) and homes.
22 And it came to pass in the ^*three hundred and forty and sixth year they began to come upon us again. 23 And it came to pass that I did speak unto my people, and did urge them with great energy, that they would stand boldly before the Lamanites and ^afight for their ^bwives, and their children, and their houses, and their homes. 24 And my words did arouse them somewhat to vigor, insomuch that they did not flee from before the Lamanites, but did stand with boldness against them.		22^* [A.D. 346] 23^a Alma 58:12 ^b Ether 14:2
Though Being Out Numbered, Mormon Regains Lands of Inheritance Regaining of the lands of inheritance in Zarahemla, south of the narrow neck was one thing, That was a matter of defeating the Lamanite army in certain battles for a matter of time. By 349 A.D. the problems of 'maintaining' the lands of inheritance in Zarahemla south of the narrow neck of land were becoming all too apparent. The robbers where there and the Lamanites also, always threatening to regroup and rise again. Likely a true degree of civilization was never again able to be developed and mainted in Zarahemla, thus the solution as to be a 'Treaty of Peace' for the 'Gift of Land', Zarahemla.
25 And it came to pass that we did contend with an army of thirty thousand against an army of fifty thousand. And it came to pass that we did stand before them with such firmness that they did flee from before us. 26 And it came to pass that when they had fled we did pursue them with our armies, and did meet them again, and did ^abeat them; nevertheless the ^bstrength of the Lord was not with us; yea, we were left to ourselves, that the Spirit of the Lord did not abide in us; therefore we had become weak like unto our brethren. 27 And my heart did sorrow because of this the great calamity of my people, because of their wickedness and their abominations. But behold, we did go forth against the Lamanites and the robbers of Gadianton, until we had again taken possession of the lands of our inheritance^a.	27^a we had again taken possession of the lands of our inheritance This 'reclaiming' of the lands of the Nephites was precarious at best. Especially in the lands of Zarahemla, where many Lamanites and robbers did dwell, though they were not associated with the armies of king Aaron. It should be understood that it is one thing to defeat and remove the army of the enemy but it is quite another to also defeat and remove all of the people from a land. And also the Nephites who did so remain in the land of Zarahmela were greatly depleted in respect to the war in which the exceedingly more numerous Lamanites and their armies which had over ran the land. Thus it was great wisdom upon the part of Mormon and the Nephites to agree to give up the infested land of Zarahemla in exchange for a 'guaranteed treaty' of land division at the defenseable narrow neck of land.	26^a Morm. 3:8 (7-8, 13) ^b TG God, Spirit of; TG Strength
38-39 Year Old Mormon Delivers Nephites a Second Time This successful defense began at the land of Shem and which did reclaim the lands of the Nephites even unto what we presume to be some lands of Zarahemla, for that was a part of the treaty negociation, marked Mormon's second successful deliverance of the Nephites from destruction. The first being that initial defeat of king Aaron twenty years prior in 330 A.D. It is of some interest to consider that the same king Aaron of the Lamanites is he who later contents with Mormon at the Jordon defense which fails as mentioned in Mormon's letter to his son Moroni, which Moroni by that time is of an age and a position of being about the ministering to the affairs of the church while his father Mormon is attempting one of the last attempts at the Jordon defense of keeping the Lamanities from furthering their invasion into the Nephite lands even further north than Jordan, which the Lamanites do.
The Great Land Treaty of 350 A.D. Likely with minor skermishes continuing in the regained land of Zarahemla and recognizing the Nephite deminished numbers, and the difficulty of living in a land of chaos, which Zarahemla had become with both contending with 'robbers' and Lamanites, it was with wisdom that the Nephites agreed to a land treaty which would set the border between the Lamanites and the Nephites at the Narrow Neck of Land. This was a defensive location that could be expected to be defended in conjunction with the narrow pass(es) of that narrow neck of land. From this time on, Zarahemla could never again be considered the Nephite's land of inheritance for they had given it away to the Lamanites forever.
28 And the ^three hundred and forty and ninth year had passed away. And in the three hundred and fiftieth year we made a treaty with the Lamanites and the robbers of Gadianton, in which we did get the lands of our inheritance divided. 29 And the Lamanites did give unto us the land ^anorthward, yea, even to the ^bnarrow passage which led into the land southward. And we did give unto the Lamanites all the land southward^a*.	29^a we did give unto the Lamanites all the land southward Thus as a result of this last war, the national lands of Zarahemla would never again be considered Nephite lands. This would include of course the land of Nephi and the national lands of Zarahemla which would have extended all the way north up into the narrow neck to include the land of Bountiful which bordered the land of Desolation as described in Alma 22:32. Thus from this chapter on, all lands spoken of after this date as Nephite lands only included those lands north of the narrow neck of land. The Nephites would never come to occupy that land again though they would attempt to go up to battle against the Lamanites against this treaty division, which was part of the consideration which Mormon made when he refused to lead the Nephites in so doing as despite what the Lamanites had done, the Nephites had 'given' that land to them. Thus all of the land of Lehi was now the land of the Lamanites (Helaman 10:6). And the more cursed land of the Jaredites named the land of Mulek was the land of the Nephites (3 Nephi 3:23-24) and would be the land of their Wateloo as it had been for the Jaredites.	28^* [A.D. 350] 29^a Morm. 2:3 ^b Alma 22:32; Alma 52:9; Alma 63:5

^* Verse 2 [A.D. 327-328]; Verse 9 [A.D. 331]; Verse 15 [A.D. 345]; Verse 22 [A.D. 346]; Verse 28 [A.D. 350].