Alma 51
King-Men Seek to Overthrow the Government
Alma 51:1–2
1 And now it came to pass in the commencement of the twenty and fifth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, they having established peace between the people of Lehi and the people of Morianton concerning their lands, and having commenced the twenty and fifth year in peace;
2 Nevertheless, they did not long maintain an entire peace in the land, for there began to be a contention among the people concerning the chief judge Pahoran; for behold, there were a part of the people who desired that a few particular points of the law should be altered.
Some of this information repeats what Mormon included at the end of the previous chapter. In this case, the chapter ended because Mormon wanted to break the text into a unit along the five-year boundary. The story of Pahoran belongs in the twenty-fifth year, but Mormon had to introduce Pahoran at the end of the previous chapter because he had neglected to introduce Nephihah. Based on what must have been Mormon’s planned text, it was actually the previous information that was “duplicated,” since he wanted to tell Pahoran’s story in the record beginning with the twenty-fifth year.
The story of Pahoran begins early in the twenty-fifth year, after the story of the people of Morianton had closed the record of the twenty-fourth year.
Alma 51:3–6
3 But behold, Pahoran would not alter nor suffer the law to be altered; therefore, he did not hearken to those who had sent in their voices with their petitions concerning the altering of the law.
4 Therefore, those who were desirous that the law should be altered were angry with him, and desired that he should no longer be chief judge over the land; therefore there arose a warm dispute concerning the matter, but not unto bloodshed.
5 And it came to pass that those who were desirous that Pahoran should be dethroned from the judgment-seat were called king-men, for they were desirous that the law should be altered in a manner to overthrow the free government and to establish a king over the land.
6 And those who were desirous that Pahoran should remain chief judge over the land took upon them the name of freemen; and thus was the division among them, for the freemen had sworn or covenanted to maintain their rights and the privileges of their religion by a free government.
There have been previous attempts to change the Nephite government from judges back to a monarchy. To understand those conflicts, and particularly this one, it is important to remember that there was very little distinction between politics and religion in the ancient world, and within the Nephite world view. The creation of churches had allowed some conceptual division, and that may have contributed to the extent of the people who desired different ways, but religion and the right of rule were still connected.
Thus, the kingmen were not only those who wanted a king, but who espoused specific religious ideals, one of which was usually the rejection of the belief in the coming Messiah. Therefore, having a king was not a return to Benjamin and Mosiah2, but a return to Zarahemla and a time before there was a Nephite religion in the land.
This is the reason that the opposition to kingmen was freemen. When Chief Captain Moroni raised the title of liberty, it was a declaration of religious liberty, not specifically political freedoms. Thus, it is that the freedom desired by the freemen was not particular political rights, but the ability to continue to worship as they desired. The conflict is identified by the difference between the rule of a king or the judges, but the deeper conflict was the religious understanding of the people. The type of kingship that the kingmen espoused would lead to the destruction of the Nephite understanding of Mosaic religion combined with the prophecies of the coming of the Messiah.
Amalickiah Returns
Alma 51:7–10
7 And it came to pass that this matter of their contention was settled by the voice of the people. And it came to pass that the voice of the people came in favor of the freemen, and Pahoran retained the judgment-seat, which caused much rejoicing among the brethren of Pahoran and also many of the people of liberty, who also put the king-men to silence, that they durst not oppose but were obliged to maintain the cause of freedom.
8 Now those who were in favor of kings were those of high birth, and they sought to be kings; and they were supported by those who sought power and authority over the people.
9 But behold, this was a critical time for such contentions to be among the people of Nephi; for behold, Amalickiah had again stirred up the hearts of the people of the Lamanites against the people of the Nephites, and he was gathering together soldiers from all parts of his land, and arming them, and preparing for war with all diligence; for he had sworn to drink the blood of Moroni.
10 But behold, we shall see that his promise which he made was rash; nevertheless, he did prepare himself and his armies to come to battle against the Nephites.
When verse 7 indicates that “this matter of their contention was settled by the voice of the people,” it is not exactly correct. The question was certainly put to the people, and the voice of the people was in favor of retaining the judges, but that did not mean that the division in their society was over.
Further information about the nature of this division comes in verse 8, where we find that “those who were in favor of kings were those of high birth.” That “high birth” suggests that they may have had ties with the families who had been in line to become kings prior to the arrival of the Nephites. They were people who had power in wealth and position and felt that they deserved more of both. The fact that it was important families behind this division likely influenced many to support them.
At the same time that there was internal political and religious division, one of those who had desired to be a Nephite king, now king among the Lamanites, again stirred his people to war against the Nephites. Amalickiah’s armies had been defeated at the city of Noah by Chief Captain Moroni’s defensive efforts, and Amalickiah developed a personal hatred for Moroni. He “had sworn to drink the blood of Moroni.”
Mormon could not help but add that this “promise which he made was rash.” Mormon let’s his audience know that Amalickiah will not be successful, even before Mormon began to describe what Amalickiah did to try to fulfill the promise.
King-Men Refuse to Fight Lamanites
Alma 51:11–13
11 Now his armies were not so great as they had hitherto been, because of the many thousands who had been slain by the hand of the Nephites; but notwithstanding their great loss, Amalickiah had gathered together a wonderfully great army, insomuch that he feared not to come down to the land of Zarahemla.
12 Yea, even Amalickiah did himself come down, at the head of the Lamanites. And it was in the twenty and fifth year of the reign of the judges; and it was at the same time that they had begun to settle the affairs of their contentions concerning the chief judge, Pahoran.
13 And it came to pass that when the men who were called king-men had heard that the Lamanites were coming down to battle against them, they were glad in their hearts; and they refused to take up arms, for they were so wroth with the chief judge, and also with the people of liberty, that they would not take up arms to defend their country.
While a few years have passed since the defeat of Amalickiah’s army at the city of Noah, those who grew into the age to join the army were not quite sufficient to replace those who had been lost. However, in this conflict, Amalickiah would have an advantage that he did not have before. The internal conflict between the kingmen and freemen weakened the defensive forces of the land of Zarahemla. The kingmen “refused to take up arms.” That the kingmen willingly accepted a probable domination by Lamanites, rather than a continuation of the reign of the judges, further underscores the nature of the conflict. The kingmen were much closer to Lamanites in belief than they were to the freemen. Since the Lamanites had long believed differently from the Nephites, it is understandable that the freemen saw the kingmen threat as one that could destroy their way of life.
Alma 51:14–16
14 And it came to pass that when Moroni saw this, and also saw that the Lamanites were coming into the borders of the land, he was exceedingly wroth because of the stubbornness of those people whom he had labored with so much diligence to preserve; yea, he was exceedingly wroth; his soul was filled with anger against them.
15 And it came to pass that he sent a petition, with the voice of the people, unto the governor of the land, desiring that he should read it, and give him (Moroni) power to compel those dissenters to defend their country or to put them to death.
16 For it was his first care to put an end to such contentions and dissensions among the people; for behold, this had been hitherto a cause of all their destruction. And it came to pass that it was granted according to the voice of the people.
Moroni “was exceedingly wroth because of the stubbornness of those people whom he had labored with so much diligence to preserve.” That was the very point of his title of liberty, and the point of all the work he had done to fortify the defenses of the cities that were part of the land of Zarahemla.
His response was dramatic, but accompanied by the voice of the people, he received permission to force those who would not take up arms to join the army. Those who were to be compelled were those who had refused to fight for this invasion, and did not include the Ammonites, who declined to fight because of a previous oath.
Alma 51:17–21
17 And it came to pass that Moroni commanded that his army should go against those king-men, to pull down their pride and their nobility and level them with the earth, or they should take up arms and support the cause of liberty.
18 And it came to pass that the armies did march forth against them; and they did pull down their pride and their nobility, insomuch that as they did lift their weapons of war to fight against the men of Moroni they were hewn down and leveled to the earth.
19 And it came to pass that there were four thousand of those dissenters who were hewn down by the sword; and those of their leaders who were not slain in battle were taken and cast into prison, for there was no time for their trials at this period.
20 And the remainder of those dissenters, rather than be smitten down to the earth by the sword, yielded to the standard of liberty, and were compelled to hoist the title of liberty upon their towers, and in their cities, and to take up arms in defence of their country.
21 And thus Moroni put an end to those king-men, that there were not any known by the appellation of king-men; and thus he put an end to the stubbornness and the pride of those people who professed the blood of nobility; but they were brought down to humble themselves like unto their brethren, and to fight valiantly for their freedom from bondage.
With the power to force the dissenters to either join with the rest of the Nephites, or be killed, Mormon fought what was essentially a civil war, but one in which appears to have had significantly fewer numbers. His civil war ended much more quickly than the Civil War that the United States had to endure.
Mormon writes these passages as though the defeat of the armies was the total defeat of the kingmen, but that will not be the case. This is a temporary victory as we will see later in Alma 60.
Amalickiah Captures Several Nephite Cities
Alma 51:22–23
22 Behold, it came to pass that while Moroni was thus breaking down the wars and contentions among his own people, and subjecting them to peace and civilization, and making regulations to prepare for war against the Lamanites, behold, the Lamanites had come into the land of Moroni, which was in the borders by the seashore.
23 And it came to pass that the Nephites were not sufficiently strong in the city of Moroni; therefore Amalickiah did drive them, slaying many. And it came to pass that Amalickiah took possession of the city, yea, possession of all their fortifications.
The last time Amalickiah sent forces to war against the Nephites, they attacked from the west, and deeper north in the land than the typical invasion through the pass near Manti. That was rebuffed, and Amalickiah did not repeat that invasion. Rather, he attempted to attack again on the east, moving up the seaboard.
The eastern approach was stronger than it once had been by the defection of the Zoramites. The Lamanites had attempted that route in the invasion prior to Amalickiah’s attempt on the west, but they saw Moroni’s army and went back to the entry point near Manti. This time, the Nephite defensive armor was not a surprise, and the Lamanites had copied it. Therefore, Amalickiah attempts an invasion again.
Moroni had attempted to strengthen that region as well, but the city of Moroni was new, and perhaps not yet very large. For whatever reason, the Lamanites were able to take and occupy the city. That gave them a foothold from which they could proceed to other cities.
Because Moroni was in the center of the land fighting the kingmen, he was apparently unable to send sufficient reinforcements in time. Therefore, the Lamanites were successful.
Alma 51:24–28
24 And those who fled out of the city of Moroni came to the city of Nephihah; and also the people of the city of Lehi gathered themselves together, and made preparations and were ready to receive the Lamanites to battle.
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.
28 And it came to pass that they marched to the borders of the land Bountiful, driving the Nephites before them and slaying many.
The foothold at the city of Moroni allowed the Lamanites to continue their invasion northward along the eastern coast. While the defensive fortifications no doubt slowed their progress, they could not stop the army. The army was large enough that the Lamanites could continue to have an army sufficient to attack while leaving troops to defend cities where Moroni’s defenses had not been able to keep them out; they now provided protection sufficiently that they could hold those cities with less than the entire army.
The land Bountiful is the northernmost edge of the land of Zarahemla, and thus the Lamanites controlled virtually all of the land on the east of the land of Zarahemla, from south to north.
Verse 26 says that the city of Nephihah was taken, which appears to contradict verse 24 which says that Amalickiah did not come against the city of Nephihah. Although both the original and the printer’s manuscript have the city of Nephihah for both verses, it is possible that the mention of Nephihah in verse 26 is an error, and perhaps should have been the city of Moroni.
Alma 51:29–31
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.
As the Lamanites move north, they desire to take possession of at least the narrow pass and therefore control the ability of people to move through that point. We previously saw that Teancum and his army had been positioned in that land in order to protect against the people of Morianton fleeing into the land northward. He was clearly still there, and Amalickiah’s army finally meets a larger Nephite army.
Teancum and his army prevented the capture of the pass and the northernmost part of the land.
Teancum Kills Amalickiah
Alma 51:32–34
32 And 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.
33 And 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.
34 And 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.
Teancum’s army forced the Lamanites back from the narrow neck and toward the east coast. They fled in that direction because that was where they had captured the fortified cities. However, before they could return to one of those cities, Teancum secretly entered the Lamanite camp and executed Amalickiah. He was able to do it without raising any alarm.
Alma 51:35–37
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.
Knowing that one of the possible reactions to Amalickiah’s death would be a retaliation, Teancum prepares his army. Mormon stops the story short of the conclusion of the story, perhaps to emphasize the importance of the timing of what happened. Verse 37 ends a chapter in the 1830 edition, which ends auspiciously in the twenty-fifth year. Not only the ending of the twenty-fifth year, but on the very last day of that year. The next chapter not only begins in the twenty-sixth year, but on the first day of the year.
