Alma 49:25-30

²⁵ And it came to pass, that when the Lamanites saw that their chief captains were all slain they fled into the wilderness.  And it came to pass that they returned to the land of Nephi, to inform their king, Amalickiah, who was a Nephite by birth, concerning their great loss.

²⁶ And it came to pass that he was exceedingly angry with his people, because he had not obtained his desire over the Nephites; he had not subjected them to the yoke of bondage. ²⁷ Yea, he was exceedingly wroth, and he did curse God, and also Moroni, swearing with an oath that he would drink his blood; and this because Moroni had kept the commandments of God in preparing for the safety of his people.

Alma 49:25-27 (Emphasis mine)

All their leaders were dead.  Rather than continue fighting, “they fled into the wilderness.”  They reported to Amalickiah (“who was a Nephite by birth”) what had happened.

He became “exceedingly angry with his people” because things were not working out for him.  He had not succeeded to subject the Nephites “to the yoke of bondage.”

In his anger, “he did curse God, and also Moroni, swearing … he would drink his blood.”  Mormon tells us this was “because Moroni had kept the commandments of God in preparing for the safety of his people.”

Hugh Nibley observes:

“So the great and carefully planned offensive with all its high hopes for a quick victory fizzled out, and a beaten army went back to report to the infuriated ‘Führer’ (Alma 49:25—26). In a towering rage, ‘exceedingly wroth ... he did curse God, and also Moroni, swearing with an oath that he would drink his blood’ (Alma 49:27). At every step in his career he had found that man Moroni barring the way; at every step in the campaign his own army had played into the hands of that Moroni. No wonder Moroni began to be an obsession with him.”[1] (Emphasis mine)

It is understandable why Amalickiah hated Nephi.

Ehab Abunuwara wrote an article about the Book of Mormon from an Arab perspective.  He wrote about this incident with Amalickiah and his oath.

“Recently, as I was reading in the Book of Mormon, I came across the story of Amalickiah, a king of the Lamanites who was a Nephite by origin. When Amalickiah heard of his army's defeat at the hands of the Nephites, he was ‘exceedingly wroth, and he did curse God, and also Moroni, swearing with an oath that he would drink his blood’ (Alma 49:27). As I read, I found myself translating the words into Arabic as if that were how they were intended to be written. I have known English for many years now, but still I am not sure that I know how to curse God in English or that I have ever heard anybody do that. Nor have I heard anyone make an oath to drink someone's blood. But in Arabic both expressions are common, and, unfortunately, I have heard both. On a preconscious level, that verse was more meaningful to me in Arabic than in English.”[2]  (Emphasis mine)

²⁸ And it came to pass, that on the other hand, the people of Nephi did thank the Lord their God, because of his matchless power in delivering them from the hands of their enemies. ²⁹ And thus ended the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

³⁰ Yea, and there was continual peace among them, and exceedingly great prosperity in the church because of their heed and diligence which they gave unto the word of God, which was declared unto them by Helaman, and Shiblon, and Corianton, and Ammon and his brethren, yea, and by all those who had been ordained by the holy order of God, being baptized unto repentance, and sent forth to preach among the people.

Alma 49:28-30 (Emphasis mine)

Amalickiah responded to his defeat by cursing God.  The Nephites “did thank the Lord their God, because of his matchless power in delivering them from the hands of their enemies.”  Without Him, they would have been defeated and many would have died in the war. 

The sons of Alma(2), Helaman, Shiblon, and Corianton continued to preach among the people.  Ammon(1), Aaron, Omner, and Himni are mentioned as being among those “who had been ordained by the holy order of God.” 

The year, which had seen much war, ended in peace and prosperity “because of their heed and diligence … unto the word of God.”

---

[1] A Rigorous Test: Military History, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 13, 2012.

[2] Into the Desert: An Arab View of the Book of Mormon, Ehab Abunuwara, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 13, 2012.