Alma 51:25-37

²⁵ But it came to pass that Amalickiah would not suffer the Lamanites to go against the city of Nephihah to battle, but kept them down by the seashore, leaving men in every city to maintain and defend it. ²⁶ And thus he went on, taking possession of many cities, the city of Nephihah, and the city of Lehi, and the city of Morianton, and the city of Omner, and the city of Gid, and the city of Mulek, all of which were on the east borders by the seashore. ²⁷ And thus had the Lamanites obtained, by the cunning of Amalickiah, so many cities, by their numberless hosts, all of which were strongly fortified after the manner of the fortifications of Moroni; all of which afforded strongholds for the Lamanites.

Alma 51:25 – 27 (Emphasis mine)

After the army had taken the city of Moroni, they continued to take other cities.  We read that Amalickiah took the cities of Lehi, Morianton, Omner, Gid, and Mulek.  This gave him an advantage as the cities had been fortified by Moroni(1).  This gave the Lamanites a number of strongholds.

As a side note, we see an error in Mormon’s record in verses 25-26.  In verse 26, we read that the city of Nephihah was taken by Amalickiah; but, in verse 25 Mormon records, “Amalickiah would not suffer the Lamanites to go against the city of Nephihah to battle.”  “Such flaws show the human side of the historian's task, although they need not cause us any serious problem in reading the account.”[1]

“[T]he emergency was very real, for even at that time Amalickiah, made wise in the ways of war, was leading his greatest army yet into the weakest parts of the land and sweeping all before him. Bypassing the strongest places, he flanked the Nephites along the coast in a lightning move that knocked out the weaker fortified places one after another and sent the occupants fleeing like sheep from one collapsing fortification to the next as he ‘went on, taking possession of many cities’ (Alma 51:26—28). It was a well-executed operation that spread panic and converted many of Moroni's strong places into Lamanite bases (Alma 51:27).”[2] (Emphasis mine)

²⁸ And it came to pass that they marched to the borders of the land Bountiful, driving the Nephites before them and slaying many. ²⁹ But it came to pass that they were met by Teancum, who had slain Morianton and had headed his people in his flight. ³⁰ And it came to pass that he headed Amalickiah also, as he was marching forth with his numerous army that he might take possession of the land Bountiful, and also the land northward.

³¹ But behold he met with a disappointment by being repulsed by Teancum and his men, for they were great warriors; for every man of Teancum did exceed the Lamanites in their strength and in their skill of war, insomuch that they did gain advantage over the Lamanites.

Alma 51:28 – 31 (Emphasis mine)

Amalickiah’s army continued its march forward, “driving the Nephites before them and slaying many.”  Amalickiah was probably pleased with his progress until he met Teancum.  Teancum was able to repulse Amalickiah’s army.  Teancum’s army was able to “gain advantage over the Lamanites.”

³²And it came to pass that they did harass them, insomuch that they did slay them even until it was dark.  And it came to pass that Teancum and his men did pitch their tents in the borders of the land Bountiful; and Amalickiah did pitch his tents in the borders on the beach by the seashore, and after this manner were they driven. ³³And it came to pass that when the night had come, Teancum and his servant stole forth and went out by night, and went into the camp of Amalickiah; and behold, sleep had overpowered them because of their much fatigue, which was caused by the labors and heat of the day. ³⁴And it came to pass that Teancum stole privily into the tent of the king, and put a javelin to his heart; and he did cause the death of the king immediately that he did not awake his servants.

Alma 51:32 – 34 (Emphasis mine)

Teancum continued harassing Amalickiah’s army, “[slaying] them even until it was dark.”  Both armies pitched their tents for the evening. 

Teancum and a servant went into the camp at night while the Lamanites slept.  “In several crucial encounters between the Nephites and the numerically superior Lamanites, the Lamanites simply fall asleep. Alma the Elder and his people are able to escape during the day because ‘the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon the Lamanites’ (Mosiah 24:19); Teancum is able to kill the dictator Amalickiah because sleep overpowers the fatigued Lamanites (Alma 51:33)…”[3]

Teancum snuck into Amalickiah’s tent and stabbed him in the heart with a javelin.  Death was immediate, so the servants didn’t wake up.  

“Then the inevitable happened. The Lamanites in their forward rush having overextended themselves met an unpleasant rebuff when their spearhead was blunted by a flanking blow of the wily Teancum, who after bringing their advance guard to a halt continued to harass the army with his highly trained and highly mobile troops (Alma 51:31). Then on a two-man night patrol such as able and enterprising generals sometimes fancy, Teancum himself slipped into Amalickiah's tent and killed him in his sleep, after which he hurried back to his own headquarters and alerted his forces to an expected enemy attack at dawn (Alma 51:33—36).”[4] (Emphasis mine)

Allan Christensen explains how this could have been a part of a New Year’s rite.

“[A]s part of their New Year's rites, ancient Maya kings engaged in ritual combat with evil lords who resided in the north. Their legitimacy and the continued survival of their kingdoms depended on the successful defeat of these powerful adversaries. It is therefore no accident that the Lamanite king Amalickiah chose New Year's to engage the Nephites in battle (Alma 51:32-52:1). The Nephite general Teancum took advantage of the situation by slaying Amalickiah on New Year's Eve, precisely when the underworld lords would have been believed to be their strongest. When the Lamanites awoke the following morning, expecting a divinely sanctioned victory, they found instead their king and protector dead. It is no wonder, then, that they fled in terror.”[5]

³⁵ And he returned again privily to his own camp, and behold, his men were asleep, and he awoke them and told them all the things that he had done. ³⁶ And he caused that his armies should stand in readiness, lest the Lamanites had awakened and should come upon them. ³⁷ And thus endeth the twenty and fifth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; and thus endeth the days of Amalickiah.

Alma 51:35 – 37 (Emphasis mine)

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[1] Mormon's Sources, John L. Sorenson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 21, 2012.

[2] A Rigorous Test: Military History, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 21, 2012.

[3] "Not Cast Off Forever" – Imagery, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 21, 2012

[4] A Rigorous Test: Military History, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 21, 2012.

[5] Maya Harvest Festivals and the Book of Mormon, Allen J. Christensen, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 21, 2012.