Alma 57:1-11

Chapter 57

Helaman recounts the taking of Antiparah and the surrender and later the defense of Cumeni—His Ammonite striplings fight valiantly and all are wounded, but none are slain—Gid reports the slaying and the escape of the Lamanite prisoners. About 63 B.C.

¹ AND now it came to pass that I received an epistle from Ammoron, the king, stating that if I would deliver up those prisoners of war whom we had taken that he would deliver up the city of Antiparah unto us. ² But I sent an epistle unto the king, that we were sure our forces were sufficient to take the city of Antiparah by our force; and by delivering up the prisoners for that city we should suppose ourselves unwise, and that we would only deliver up our prisoners on exchange. ³ And Ammoron refused mine epistle, for he would not exchange prisoners; therefore we began to make preparations to go against the city of Antiparah.

⁴ But the people of Antiparah did leave the city, and fled to their other cities, which they had possession of, to fortify them; and thus the city of Antiparah fell into our hands. ⁵ And thus ended the twenty and eighth year of the reign of the judges.

Alma 57:1 – 5 (Emphasis mine)

Ammoron sent Helaman(2) an epistle with a proposal.  If he would exchange prisoners, he would surrender the city of Antiparah. 

Helaman(2) responded that he was sure that they could take Antiparah.  There was no advantage to agreeing to his terms.  He responded that it would be “unwise” to agree with his terms.  Ammoron “refused [Helaman(2)’s] epistle.”

He began to prepare to take the city.  In response, the people fled the city to other cities.  Without a battle, he took Antiparah.

Hugh Nibley writes:

“When he saw that he would not be able to hold the city of Antiparah, the sly Ammoron approached Helaman with an offer to give the Nephites the city in exchange for all their prisoners; but Helaman would have no part of that—it would have to be on a prisoner-for-prisoner basis; so Ammoron called it off, and the Nephites took Antiparah without pains, the inhabitants having fled to Lamanite country (Alma 57:1—4). The success at Antiparah was rewarded by strong reinforcements from the capital; with these Helaman blockaded the city of Cumeni,”[1]

⁶ And it came to pass that in the commencement of the twenty and ninth year [63 B.C.], we received a supply of provisions, and also an addition to our army, from the land of Zarahemla, and from the land round about, to the number of six thousand men, besides sixty of the sons of the Ammonites who had come to join their brethren, my little band of two thousand.  And now behold, we were strong, yea, and we had also plenty of provisions brought unto us. ⁷ And it came to pass that it was our desire to wage a battle with the army which was placed to protect the city Cumeni. ⁸ And now behold, I will show unto you that we soon accomplished our desire; yea, with our strong force, or with a part of our strong force, we did surround, by night, the city Cumeni, a little before they were to receive a supply of provisions.

Alma 57:6 – 8 (Emphasis mine)

Helaman(2)’s army received supplies and reinforcements.  Over 6,000 men joined the army.  The army is ready to continue taking the battle to the Lamanites.

It was decided to attach the Lamanites at the city of Cumeni.  Helaman(2) tells us that they will succeed and that he will “show unto you that we soon accomplished our desire.”

⁹ And it came to pass that we did camp round about the city for many nights; but we did sleep upon our swords, and keep guards, that the Lamanites could not come upon us by night and slay us, which they attempted many times; but as many times as they attempted this their blood was spilt. ¹⁰ At length their provisions did arrive, and they were about to enter the city by night.  And we, instead of being Lamanites, were Nephites; therefore, we did take them and their provisions. ¹¹ And notwithstanding the Lamanites being cut off from their support after this manner, they were still determined to maintain the city; therefore it became expedient that we should take those provisions and send them to Judea, and our prisoners to the land of Zarahemla.

Alma 57:9 – 11 (Emphasis mine)

They surrounded the city.  The Lamanites tried to attack at night, but they were easily rappelled.  When provisions arrived, Helaman(2) was able to confiscate them and the Lamanites who were bringing them. 

The provisions were sent to Judea and to the prisoners being held in the land of Zarahemla.

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[1] A Rigorous Test: Military History, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 10, 2012.

Alma 56:20-29

²⁰ They were commanded by Ammoron to maintain those cities which they had taken.  And thus ended the twenty and sixth year.  And in the commencement of the twenty and seventh year [65 B.C.] we had prepared our city and ourselves for defence. ²¹ Now we were desirous that the Lamanites should come upon us; for we were not desirous to make an attack upon them in their strongholds. ²² And it came to pass that we kept spies out round about, to watch the movements of the Lamanites, that they might not pass us by night nor by day to make an attack upon our other cities which were on the northward.

Alma 56:20 – 22 (Emphasis mine)

Ammoron had his armies “maintain those cities which they had taken.”  This decision was made after the 2,000 Stripling Warriors joining the army of Anitpus. 

Helaman(2) tells us that they “were desirous that the Lamanites should come upon us.”  They did not want to battle them in their strongholds.  Spies were used to keep track of their movements.  They wanted to make sure the Lamanite armies did not pass by without their knowledge to attack “other cities which were on the northward.”

John Clark looks at a possible geographic layout of the land.  “The Nephites kept spies out so the Lamanites would not pass them by night ‘to make an attack upon [their] other cities which were on the northward’ (Alma 56:22). The cities to the north were not strong enough to withstand the Lamanites (Alma 56:23).

a.    “Nephite fortifications were north of the Lamanite-controlled cities.

b.    “Lamanite strongholds probably were strung out east–west (the captured fortified line of the Nephites).

c.    “The Nephite fortifications were close enough together that they could watch their newly fortified line and protect the weaker settlements to the north.”[1]

²³ For we knew in those cities they were not sufficiently strong to meet them; therefore we were desirous, if they should pass by us, to fall upon them in their rear, and thus bring them up in the rear at the same time they were met in the front.  We supposed that we could overpower them; but behold, we were disappointed in this our desire. ²⁴ They durst not pass by us with their whole army, neither durst they with a part, lest they should not be sufficiently strong and they should fall. ²⁵ Neither durst they march down against the city of Zarahemla; neither durst they cross the head of Sidon, over to the city of Nephihah. ²⁶ And thus, with their forces, they were determined to maintain those cities which they had taken.

Alma 56:23 – 26 (Emphasis mine)

The cities “northward” were not strong enough to defend themselves against Lamanite attacks.  They needed to be protected.

The plans were, “if they should pass us by,” was to attack the rear of the army and at the front at the same time.  “[B]ut behold, we were disappointed in this desire.”

The Lamanites “durst not” use the entire army or even a part of the army.  They were concerned that they might be defeated. 

They couldn’t “march down against the city of Zarahemla.”  They “durst [not to] cross the head of the Sidon, over to the city of Nephihah.”  They had decided to defend and hold “those cities which they had taken.”  Hugh Nibley tells us “the result was a stalemate in which neither side dared move (Alma 56:23—26).”[2]

²⁷ And now it came to pass in the second month of this year, there was brought unto us many provisions from the fathers of those my two thousand sons.  ²⁸ And also there were sent two thousand men unto us from the land of Zarahemla.  And thus we were prepared with ten thousand men, and provisions for them, and also for their wives and their children. ²⁹ And the Lamanites, thus seeing our forces increase daily, and provisions arrive for our support, they began to be fearful, and began to sally forth, if it were possible to put an end to our receiving provisions and strength.

Alma 56:27 – 29 (Emphasis mine)

Provisions for the army were essential.  Early in the year, provisions were provided to the army by “the fathers of those my two thousand sons.  “Men as young as sixteen to twenty-five years old were eligible to participate in, and even lead, the armed forces (see Alma 43:17; Mormon 2:2). This would force the remaining population ‘to take over the jobs vacated by the national levy and to help the elders and women keep up their farms, workshops, and other enterprises.’ Those not called for military service provided material and moral support for the armies. Kin groups and local communities sponsoring military units in the field were expected to provide provisions when necessary (see Alma 56:27-28).”[3]

In addition to enough provisions to provide for the men, their wives, and their children, two thousand men were sent from Zarahemla to become a part of the army.  Antipus now had a fully provisioned, 10,000 man army.

The Lamanites, seeing the Nephite forces being replenished with supplies, food, and additional men, “began to be fearful.”  They attempted, “if it were possible to put an end to our receiving provisions and strength.”

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[1] Revisiting "A Key for Evaluating Nephite Geographies", John E. Clark, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 7, 2012.

[2] A Rigorous Test: Military History, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 7, 2012.

[3] Nephite Captains and Armies, A. Brent Merrill, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 7, 2012.