Things are not going well for the Lamanite army. They were going to attack Ammoniah because it
had been an easy target earlier. When
they got there, they found that Moroni(1) had fortified the city to the point
the Lamanites could not attack and win. Mormon
tells us that had Amalickiah been there, he would have ordered an attack
because he didn’t care about the lives of those who served under him.
The chief captains felt differently. They decided it was not worth the losses and
moved on. Their next target was the city
of Noah. It was located in a weaker part
of the land. They were so confident of
victory, “their chief captains came forward and took an oath that they would
destroy the people of that city” (Alma 49:13).
When they arrived at the city of Noah, they found it was
better fortified. There was no hope for
victory. Even so, the attack was going
forward because the chief captains took an oath that they would destroy the
city.
18 Now behold, the Lamanites could not get into their forts
of security by any other way save by the entrance, because of the highness of
the bank which had been thrown up, and the depth of the ditch which had been
dug round about, save it were by the entrance. 19 And thus were the
Nephites prepared to destroy all such as should attempt to climb up to enter
the fort by any other way, by casting over stones and arrows at them. 20
Thus they were prepared, yea, a body of their strongest men, with their swords
and their slings, to smite down all who should attempt to come into their place
of security by the place of entrance; and thus were they prepared to defend
themselves against the Lamanites.
Alma 49:18-20 (Emphasis mine)
There was only one place where the Lamanites could
enter. This entrance was guarded by the
best of the Nephites army. “In a good
description of a typical Nephite fortification (Alma 49:17—20) we are told that
elevation was an important element of defense, the enemy being forced to climb
up to the fort, which was surrounded by a high bank and a deep ditch; an
important feature was the ‘place of entrance’ where assailants were let into a
trap and there cut down by the swords and slings of the most expert fighters in
the place (Alma 49:20).”[1]
21 And it came to pass that the captains of the
Lamanites brought up their armies before the place of entrance, and began to
contend with the Nephites, to get into their place of security; but behold,
they were driven back from time to time, insomuch that they were slain with an
immense slaughter. 22 Now when they found
that they could not obtain power over the Nephites by the pass, they began to
dig down their banks of earth that they might obtain a pass to their armies,
that they might have an equal chance to fight; but behold, in these attempts they were swept
off by the stones and arrows which were thrown at them; and instead of filling
up their ditches by pulling down the banks of earth, they were filled up in a
measure with their dead and wounded bodies.
23 Thus the Nephites had all power over their
enemies; and thus the Lamanites did attempt to destroy the Nephites until their
chief captains were all slain; yea, and more than a thousand of the
Lamanites were slain; while, on the other hand, there was not a single soul of
the Nephites which was slain. 24 There were about fifty
who were wounded, who had been exposed to the arrows of the Lamanites through
the pass, but they were shielded by their shields, and their breastplates, and
their head–plates, insomuch that their wounds were upon their legs, many of
which were very severe.
Alma 49:21-24 (Emphasis mine)
It was a slaughter.
They were driven back as soon as the attack began. They attempted to “dig down their banks of
earth that they might obtain a pass to their armies,” but instead the ditches “were
filled up in a measure with their dead and wounded bodies.”
“The Nephite militias were equipped with a variety of
weapons, including darts, javelins, slings, stones, axes, clubs, spears, bows
and arrows, swords, and cimeters. Again care must be taken in interpreting how
these weapons were employed. For instance, Alma 49:22 speaks of a Lamanite
attack against a fortified Nephite city (fortifications were well known in
Mesoamerica) and states that ‘stones and arrows ... were thrown’ at the
attackers. Whether the stones were thrown by hand or propelled by slings or
some other means is not clear. Nor is it clear whether the arrows were shot
from a bow or an atlatl-type device [a spear-throwing device].”[2]
(Emphasis mine)
A thousand Lamanites died in the battle. Among the dead were the Lamanite chief
captains. Now the Lamanite army had lost
their leaders.
“[N]ot a single soul of the Nephites” was slain. The only part of their bodies that was
exposed was their legs and fifty were wounded in their legs; some injuries “were
very severe.”
[1] Strategy
for Survival, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed
April 12, 2012.
[2] Nephite
Captains and Armies, A. Brent Merrill, Provo, Utah: Maxwell
Institute, accessed April 12, 2012.
No comments:
Post a Comment