Alma 52:31-40

The Lamanite army is retreating towards the city of Mulek having decided not to fight Lehi(2)’s army.  They have no clue that they are about to meet Moroni(1)’s army.

³¹ And it came to pass that before the Lamanites had retreated far they were surrounded by the Nephites, by the men of Moroni on one hand, and the men of Lehi on the other, all of whom were fresh and full of strength; but the Lamanites were wearied because of their long march. ³² And Moroni commanded his men that they should fall upon them until they had given up their weapons of war.

³³ And it came to pass that Jacob, being their leader, being also a Zoramite, and having an unconquerable spirit, he led the Lamanites forth to battle with exceeding fury against Moroni. ³⁴ Moroni being in their course of march, therefore Jacob was determined to slay them and cut his way through to the city of Mulek.  But behold, Moroni and his men were more powerful; therefore they did not give way before the Lamanites. ³⁵ And it came to pass that they fought on both hands with exceeding fury; and there were many slain on both sides; yea, and Moroni was wounded and Jacob was killed.

Alma 52:31 – 35 (Emphasis mine)

The Lamanites found themselves surrounded by Moroni(1) and Lehi(2).  They were worn out because of the long march and they were facing a rested army.  Moroni(1) “commanded his men that they should fall upon them.” 

Then Mormon reminds us of Moroni(1)’s rules of war.  His army was to fight “until [the Lamanites] had given up their weapons of war.”  He did not what a blood bath.  He wanted victory with the fewest casualties possible on both sides. 

Their Zoramite leader, Jacob, had “an unconquerable spirit.”  He led his army to battle with Moroni(1).  Moroni(1)’s army was “more powerful; therefore they did not give way before the Lamanites.”

It was still a ferocious battle, with many Nephites and Lamanites slain.  When it was over, Jacob was dead and Moroni(1) was wounded.

Hugh Nibley summarizes:

“The Lamanites were trying to made a dash out of Mulek to follow Teancum's army. Then [Lehi's] army zeroed into them from Bountiful. Then Moroni's army was down in the southwest, and he moved in behind them. They were hopelessly trapped and surrendered. There are some things to comment on in Alma 52:32. It was up to them to decide when to quit. ‘And Moroni commanded his men that they should fall upon them until they had given up their weapons of war.’ As soon as they gave them up, that was it. There was not extermination here. Then notice the good old Zoramites. They were all Nephites to begin with; therefore, they were apostates and were very bitter. Jacob wants to go on fighting. The Lamanites don't, but he does. He led them ‘with exceeding fury against Moroni’ and cut his way through to the city of Mulek. Then there was a terrific melee. Moroni was wounded and Jacob was killed, and that ended this particular war.”[1] (Emphasis mine)

³⁶ And Lehi pressed upon their rear with such fury with his strong men, that the Lamanites in the rear delivered up their weapons of war; and the remainder of them, being much confused, knew not whither to go or to strike. ³⁷ Now Moroni seeing their confusion, he said unto them: If ye will bring forth your weapons of war and deliver them up, behold we will forbear shedding your blood.

³⁸ And it came to pass that when the Lamanites had heard these words, their chief captains, all those who were not slain, came forth and threw down their weapons of war at the feet of Moroni, and also commanded their men that they should do the same. ³⁹ But behold, there were many that would not; and those who would not deliver up their swords were taken and bound, and their weapons of war were taken from them, and they were compelled to march with their brethren forth into the land Bountiful. ⁴⁰ And now the number of prisoners who were taken exceeded more than the number of those who had been slain, yea, more than those who had been slain on both sides.

Alma 52:36 – 40 (Emphasis mine)

As the battle continued, “the Lamanites in the rear delivered up their weapons of war.”  There was a group who was confused and did not know what to do, whether to surrender of fight.  Moroni(1) stepped in and told them that, if they surrender and give up their weapons o war, the Nephites “will forbear shedding your blood.” 

The chief captains “threw down their weapons of war at the feet of Moroni, and also commanded their men that they should do the same.”  There were a few who refused to “deliver up their swords.”  They were take as prisoners of war.  They were bound and marched to prison. 

Now there is a POW problem.  Mormon tells us that “the number of prisoners who were taken exceeded more than the number of those who had been slain [on both sides].”

Hugh Nibley sums up:

“[T]hose who would not surrender were not killed but disarmed, bound, and marched off to the great central prison compound at Bountiful (Alma 52:39). The prisoner of war problem was now becoming a very serious one for the Nephites. Their best solution was to put their prisoners to work, apparently because it was easy to guard them while at their labor, and because the Nephites were frightfully short of manpower (Alma 53:1). The work was mainly the conversion of Bountiful into a very strong ‘Stalag,’ with ditch and breastwork—more of Moroni's ingenuity (Alma 53:3—5).”[2]

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[1] Lecture 70: Alma 52-54, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 25, 2012.

[2] A Rigorous Test: Military History, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 25, 2012.