Alma 52

Alma 52:1

1 And now, it came to pass in the twenty and sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, behold, when the Lamanites awoke on the first morning of the first month, behold, they found Amalickiah was dead in his own tent; and they also saw that Teancum was ready to give them battle on that day.

The execution of Amalickiah took place on the last day of the year that both the Nephites and the Lamanites were using at this time. When they Lamanites awake on the “first morning of the first month” they find their leader dead. This would have been disturbing on any day, but to happen on the first day of the new year would be a particularly dangerous omen:

“Amalickiah had almost gained victory over the Nephites on the east seashore when Teancum, a Nephite captain, stole at night into Amalickiah's camp "and put a javelin to his heart," then slipped away without awakening anybody. This was the last night of their year. (In that area war would be likely to occur between October and February, when rains and floods did not block movement; since Amalickiah was already well into his campaign at this time, it seems likely that this year end/beginning was at or near the winter solstice.) "And now, it came to pass in the twenty and sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, behold, when the Lamanites awoke on the first morning of the first month [of the year], behold, they found Amalickiah was dead in his own tent. . . . And now, when the Lamanites saw this they were affrighted; and they abandoned their design, . . . and retreated with all their army into the city of Mulek, and sought protection in their fortifications" (Alma 52:1-2). Throughout later Mesoamerican societies immense effort was expended to determine whether a period of time was lucky or unlucky for some endeavor. Omens were regularly sought and frequently were tied to events of the last, or first, day. It would be highly characteristic of Mesoamericans to act as the Lamanites did upon the death of Amalickiah. To awaken on the first day of a new year to find their leader dead would have been far more unnerving to their omen-conscious feelings than we moderns may appreciate.” (John L. Sorenson, An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon [Salt Lake City and Provo: Deseret Book Co., Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1985], 275.)

Chronological: The twenty-sixth year of the reign of the judges correlates to approximately 68 B.C.

Alma 52:2

2 And now, when the Lamanites saw this they were affrighted; and they abandoned their design in marching into the land northward, and retreated with all their army into the city of Mulek, and sought protection in their fortifications.

The loss of the leader typically indicated the end of a battle. Finding a leader dead on the auspicious first day of the year would have been a signal even greater than the death of the leader in battle. Thus the Lamanites retreat to the stronghold of Mulek. Mulek is not that far distant, so the retreat is not a complete flight, but rather a strategic regrouping. The army returns to a defensible position.

Alma 52:3

3 And it came to pass that the brother of Amalickiah was appointed king over the people; and his name was Ammoron; thus king Ammoron, the brother of king Amalickiah, was appointed to reign in his stead.

Alma 52:4

4 And it came to pass that he did command that his people should maintain those cities, which they had taken by the shedding of blood; for they had not taken any cities save they had lost much blood.

While the loss of Amalickiah has temporarily disrupted the Lamanite army, it is not a permanent disruption. Amalickiah’s brother Ammoron takes over command. He becomes the king. The first thing we note is that Ammoron controls his army and makes secure those cities that they had already taken.

The succession of Amalickiah’s brother should prompt a question is modern readers familiar with European style monarchies. From the European perspective, we expect that the son of the king will become the next king, even if that son is quite young. That does not happen here, but rather the brother becomes king. Fortunately, this is very comfortable in the Mesoamerican context. In the later Aztec monarchy, there was frequent succession by brothers (see Susan D. Gillespie. The Aztec Kings. University of Arizona Press, 1989, pp. 11-12).

Alma 52:5

5 And now, Teancum saw that the Lamanites were determined to maintain those cities which they had taken, and those parts of the land which they had obtained possession of; and also seeing the enormity of their number, Teancum thought it was not expedient that he should attempt to attack them in their forts.

Alma 52:6

6 But he kept his men round about, as if making preparations for war; yea, and truly he was preparing to defend himself against them, by casting up walls round about and preparing places of resort.

Alma 52:7

7 And it came to pass that he kept thus preparing for war until Moroni had sent a large number of men to strengthen his army.

Teancum is now facing a larger army well established in defended cities. That would make Teancum’s task nearly impossible, so he does not undertake a direct attack. What he does is similar to laying siege. He places his army in position, but doesn’t attack. Instead, they build defenses for their own positions, and await reinforcements. Teancum knows that while the Lamanite army is larger and in excellent defensive positions, they will nevertheless become vulnerable should they attempt to leave their places of safety. Teancum awaits that eventuality.

Alma 52:8

8 And Moroni also sent orders unto him that he should retain all the prisoners who fell into his hands; for as the Lamanites had taken many prisoners, that he should retain all the prisoners of the Lamanites as a ransom for those whom the Lamanites had taken.

The two sides apparently believe in the ability to exchange prisoners. Both sides have them, and Moroni believes that an exchange is possible.

Alma 52:9

9 And he also sent orders unto him that he should fortify the land Bountiful, and secure the narrow pass which led into the land northward, lest the Lamanites should obtain that point and should have power to harass them on every side.

Geographic: The land Bountiful is the land immediately to the south of the narrow pass. By fortifying the land of Bountiful, Teancum would be protecting the narrow pass as well. Moroni’s intent in this is telling. He does not want the Lamanites to be able to “have power to harass them on every side.” The possession of the narrow path by the Lamanites would cut off a retreat area. The Lamanites are already in a very strong position, but not yet to the point where they could “harass… on every side.”

Alma 52:10

10 And Moroni also sent unto him, desiring him that he would be faithful in maintaining that quarter of the land, and that he would seek every opportunity to scourge the Lamanites in that quarter, as much as was in his power, that perhaps he might take again by stratagem or some other way those cities which had been taken out of their hands; and that he also would fortify and strengthen the cities round about, which had not fallen into the hands of the Lamanites.

Teancum is given charge of this “quarter of the land.” The quarters were the major divisions of land. Teancum is in charge of this sector. Moroni tells him to attack the Lamanites as he is able, and to strengthen the cities that are still held by the Nephites.

Alma 52:11

11 And he also said unto him, I would come unto you, but behold, the Lamanites are upon us in the borders of the land by the west sea; and behold, I go against them, therefore I cannot come unto you.

Moroni is occupied in a different direction. This time the Lamanites have not given the Nephite army a single front, but are dividing the efforts. This tactic favors the Lamanites because of their superior numbers. With the larger numbers of men available to them, they are able to divide their forces and still have a formidable attacking army. The Nephites must also divide their forces, but with smaller numbers, the result weakens the Nephites far more than it weakens the Lamanites. In this case the division of the armies has not hurt the Lamanites because of their early victories in the cities Teancum is not to try to retake. By succeeding in capturing and occupying fortified cities, the Lamanites gained a solid foothold that is well protected. We learned that it cost them dearly to acquire them (verse 4) and it is therefore likely that it would cost Teancum dearly to retake them, if he used the same type of attack as did the Lamanites. Once again, the difference in available manpower places the advantage squarely with the Lamanites.

Alma 52:12

12 Now, the king (Ammoron) had departed out of the land of Zarahemla, and had made known unto the queen concerning the death of his brother, and had gathered together a large number of men, and had marched forth against the Nephites on the borders by the west sea.

This second attack point was the result of Ammoron’s understanding of the position of the Lamanites in the first attack. He knew from having been there that they had a strong foothold in Nephite territory. It is unlikely that he left without an accompanying force. To that force he undoubtedly added more men, and then made the attack on the western areas of the Nephite holdings.

Alma 52:13

13 And thus he was endeavoring to harass the Nephites, and to draw away a part of their forces to that part of the land, while he had commanded those whom he had left to possess the cities which he had taken, that they should also harass the Nephites on the borders by the east sea, and should take possession of their lands as much as it was in their power, according to the power of their armies.

The Nephites are caught in a pincer, with strong armies attacking from both sides. The Lamanite army on the east does not even have to attack, but only to “harass.” They can stay in their fortified places and sally forth for short attacks that will occupy Teancum’s army. By doing so they may not capture any more ground, but the will occupy and army (and a valuable general) and keep that army from concentrating on the new attack in the west. Ammoron clearly understands that he is dividing the Nephite forces and thereby weakening their possible response.

Alma 52:14

14 And thus were the Nephites in those dangerous circumstances in the ending of the twenty and sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

The events described have taken a year to unfold. Mormon does not give us more indication of the timeframes other than this marker. The death of Amalickiah comes in the last day of the twenty-fifth year of the reign of the judges, and the Lamanite retreat into the fortified cities happens the next day. Somewhere over the year the war bogs down around the now-Lamanite-possessed cities. Somewhere over the year Ammoron leaves to raise another army, and then returns to begin engaging Moroni. As the year ends, there is no conclusion to this war, only “dangerous circumstances.”

Alma 52:15

15 But behold, it came to pass in the twenty and seventh year of the reign of the judges, that Teancum, by the command of Moroni—who had established armies to protect the south and the west borders of the land, and had begun his march towards the land Bountiful, that he might assist Teancum with his men in retaking the cities which they had lost—

Although Mormon does not tell us, we can surmise that Moroni has been able to blunt Ammoron’s attack on the west. That advance must be bogged down and under sufficient control that Moroni can march to Bountiful to assist Teancum. He needs to do this because the Lamanites in that quarter of the land are in the Nephite cities, and thus have a much stronger base of operation for a long term conflict than does the army of Ammoron. The threat in that quarter is very great, and once the basic border is at least temporarily stabilized, Moroni must go to the area of greatest threat. The specific threat is the city of Mulek, which appears to house the largest of the Lamanite divisions.

Alma 52:16

16 And it came to pass that Teancum had received orders to make an attack upon the city of Mulek, and retake it if it were possible.

Alma 52:17

17 And it came to pass that Teancum made preparations to make an attack upon the city of Mulek, and march forth with his army against the Lamanites; but he saw that it was impossible that he could overpower them while they were in their fortifications; therefore he abandoned his designs and returned again to the city Bountiful, to wait for the coming of Moroni, that he might receive strength to his army.

Again we return to verse 4. The taking of Mulek was not impossible, for the Lamanites had done it. They had not done so, however, without tremendous loss of life, and while all armies must be willing to accept some loss of life, Teancum could see that in this case it would be devastating. Rather than waste his army, and then open up a clear path for the Lamanites to attack, he decided to hold for Moroni’s arrival.

Alma 52:18

18 And it came to pass that Moroni did arrive with his army at the land of Bountiful, in the latter end of the twenty and seventh year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

Again Mormon tells us little of the maneuverings during an entire year. We begin the year with Moroni in the west and Teancum in the east. Moroni does not arrive in the east until the end of the year. Certainly he was well occupied during that year, but Mormon gives us none of the particulars. Clearly Moroni had skirmishes if not all out battles with the Lamanites on the western front, and was able to stabilize the situation there. It was not a simple task, however, and required a year to achieve the point where he could afford to leave to assist Teancum.

The length of time that has elapsed also highlights the importance of the taking of the cities by the Lamanites. This part of the Lamanite army is far from their homeland, and thus far from supply lines. By taking the cities they can work the fields and have a means of growing crops in places where they can protect the fields. Thus they become their own supply line, and can hold out indefinitely. It is also important to remember that the Lamanites held multiple cities, and that the cities could therefore reinforce each other. In Aztec siege operations, troops were sent to neighboring cities to make sure that they did not come to the aid of the sieged city (Ross Hassig, Aztec Warfare. University of Oklahoma Press, 1988, p. 107). Teancum would have been unable to completely cut off the inter-city aid among the Lamanites because of the number of cities they held. Teancum’s army would have been too diluted to have been effective.

Alma 52:19

19 And in the commencement of the twenty and eighth year, Moroni and Teancum and many of the chief captains held a council of war—what they should do to cause the Lamanites to come out against them to battle; or that they might by some means flatter them out of their strongholds, that they might gain advantage over them and take again the city of Mulek.

Alma 52:20

20 And it came to pass they sent embassies to the army of the Lamanites, which protected the city of Mulek, to their leader, whose name was Jacob, desiring him that he would come out with his armies to meet them upon the plains between the two cities. But behold, Jacob, who was a Zoramite, would not come out with his army to meet them upon the plains.

The first tactic attempted by Moroni is to request a fair fight in the open. It is no surprise that the opposing leader Jacob, refuses. Even were he confident of victory, there was no reason to attempt it. Jacob knew that he was in an excellent position, and that he was a very real danger to the Nephites. He had no incentive to accept.

The idea that he might have accepted, however, is interesting. Moroni does not send the emissary to the king with no hope, but rather with some expectation that there might be an acceptance of the proposal. This sending of a representative to the city to be attacked was a traditional part of warfare as it developed in Mesoamerica, and the Aztecs typically sent ambassadors to cities requesting their peaceful acquiescence to the Aztec power, under threat of military action (Ross Hassig, Aztec Warfare. University of Oklahoma Press, 1988, p. 50).

Alma 52:21

21 And it came to pass that Moroni, having no hopes of meeting them upon fair grounds, therefore, he resolved upon a plan that he might decoy the Lamanites out of their strongholds.

Alma 52:22

22 Therefore he caused that Teancum should take a small number of men and march down near the seashore; and Moroni and his army, by night, marched in the wilderness, on the west of the city Mulek; and thus, on the morrow, when the guards of the Lamanites had discovered Teancum, they ran and told it unto Jacob, their leader.

Moroni comes up with a strategy that will lure many of the Lamanites out of the city of Mulek. He sends Teancum with a raiding party down near the seashore. This party had to be sufficiently large to be a threat, but small enough that the Lamanites could easily mount superior numbers. The question is the type of threat. While the march comes along the seashore, it is probable that the threat was against the fields, not against the city. The Lamanites would know that such a small force could not attack the city, so they were safe. The only incentive to leave their protection would be to protect something else, and that would likely be their food supply. It would be an effective tactic for the Nephites to destroy the crops, and therefore the ability of the Lamanites to survive for long.

For this to have worked, the attack had to have taken place after planting season. Once again Mormon does not give us the timing of the events within the year. The retaking of Mulek will occupy a year, so it is not unlikely that this feint has begun after the sowing of the fields.

The second aspect of this plan that allows it to work is a rare night march for Moroni’s force. Night marches were rare because there was a lack of light, and therefore marching in areas where there were not roads was much more hazardous. This was an unexpected move, and placed Moroni’s army much closer to Mulek than the Lamanites had supposed.

Alma 52:23

23 And it came to pass that the armies of the Lamanites did march forth against Teancum, supposing by their numbers to overpower Teancum because of the smallness of his numbers. And as Teancum saw the armies of the Lamanites coming out against him he began to retreat down by the seashore, northward.

Alma 52:24

24 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that he began to flee, they took courage and pursued them with vigor. And while Teancum was thus leading away the Lamanites who were pursuing them in vain, behold, Moroni commanded that a part of his army who were with him should march forth into the city, and take possession of it.

Alma 52:25

25 And thus they did, and slew all those who had been left to protect the city, yea, all those who would not yield up their weapons of war.

The fortified cities were not impregnable, but the cost of life that it would take to conquer them was commensurate with the defenses left in them. The Lamanites did leave a force to protect the city, no doubt assuming that it was sufficiently large. They also undoubtedly had calculated the amount of time it would take for Moroni to move against Mulek from his previously known position, and probably assumed that they could return before Moroni could cause a serious problem. The night march had changed that timing, however, and the Lamanites not only did not know of it, the clearly did not expect it. Their move was one that would normally have been safe, but had been made dangerous by the unusual night march. The difficulties of night marches made large scale night movements rare throughout Mesoamerica, even up to the time of the Aztec military (Ross Hassig, Aztec Warfare. University of Oklahoma Press, 1988, p. 95).

Alma 52:26

26 And thus Moroni had obtained possession of the city Mulek with a part of his army, while he marched with the remainder to meet the Lamanites when they should return from the pursuit of Teancum.

Moroni leaves a force in charge of the city, and then marches after the fleeing Teancum. As will be seen he will catch the Lamanite army on both the front and the rear. It would appear that the capture of the city of Mulek was complete enough that there were no escaping Lamanites who could retreat to the other Lamanite-held cities. Certainly Moroni did not want to risk the retaking of Mulek because he left it in as weakened a position as he found it. The other cities must not have know of the fall, and therefore were not likely to come to the attack on Mulek.

Alma 52:27

27 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did pursue Teancum until they came near the city Bountiful, and then they were met by Lehi and a small army, which had been left to protect the city Bountiful.

Lehi is the general that Moroni had previously used to create a two-front battle against the Lamanites. He is clearly a trusted aide, and would have been a fierce fighter in his own right. Teancum meets up with this army that has been placed to meet the attack of the Lamanites following Teancum.

Alma 52:28

28 And now behold, when the chief captains of the Lamanites had beheld Lehi with his army coming against them, they fled in much confusion, lest perhaps they should not obtain the city Mulek before Lehi should overtake them; for they were wearied because of their march, and the men of Lehi were fresh.

There are multiple reasons why the Lamanites should break off and return to Mulek. Mormon tells us only that they flee rapidly. They also flee because they know that they do not have the time for a long engagement with an enemy army. Even though they might have been larger and able to eventually conquer the Nephites, that would take time, and they would have known that Moroni could then move on Mulek. Of course they did not know that he already had.

Alma 52:29

29 Now the Lamanites did not know that Moroni had been in their rear with his army; and all they feared was Lehi and his men.

Alma 52:30

30 Now Lehi was not desirous to overtake them till they should meet Moroni and his army.

Lehi pursues them to keep the Lamanites moving in the desired direction – straight into Moroni. With the difficulties in communications, it is unlikely that Lehi knew that Moroni had taken Mulek. He would have faith that Moroni had accomplished his objective and moved according to the plan, but he would not have known this. Thus he moved cautiously, expecting that the Lamanites would meet Moroni’s army, and then the battle would trap the Lamanites between the two forces.

Alma 52:31

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.

Alma 52:32

32 And Moroni commanded his men that they should fall upon them until they had given up their weapons of war.

Moroni’s battle commands remain consistent. The Nephites fight until the Lamanites are willing to give up their arms and surrender. Should that happen, the fighting would break off. Moroni did not intent to slaughter the enemy, but rather to defeat them.

Alma 52:33

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.

Alma 52:34

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.

Jacob assumes that if he can fight through Moroni’s army that he could reach Mulek and safety. He does not know that Mulek has been taken, and that even should he arrive there, there would be no safety. Jacob takes the only course that might have preserved his men.

Alma 52:35

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 52:36

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.

The Lamanite army was large enough that there were two distinct lines of battle on the front and the rear. In the center, however, there would be a number of men who were not engaged in either front. Those men were the ones who had to decide to which front to move when their comrades fell in combat. Mormon’s description of the confusion in the Lamanite army would be an excellent description of the effect of this two front battle on the unengaged troops in the center of the Lamanite army. They would not know which way to go, either to the front or the rear, since there was fighting on both sides.

Alma 52:37

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.

Alma 52:38

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.

The slaying of Jacob undoubtedly was one of the reasons that the chief captains were willing to give up their arms. They were not only in a difficult situation, but their leader had fallen. This is again similar to the battle along the Sidon where Lehi and Moroni had previously surrounded the Lamanites and attempted to come to peace with them (see Alma 45).

Alma 52:39

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.

As with the battle against Zerahemnah in Alma 45, there were those who were willing to lay down their weapons and those who were not. Moroni does not execute those who still are willing to fight, but rather causes them to be disarmed and taken as bound prisoners. While all prisoners might have been bound, the earlier action of Moroni when he allowed those of the army of Zerahmnah to leave if they covenanted to not fight again suggests that he may have accepted an oath of those who surrendered, and not required that they be bound.

Alma 52:40

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.

Moroni takes a larger number of prisoners than those that were slain. The reason that this large number of Lamanites surrendered was that they had lost leadership and were in an untenable position. They might have been able to kill more Nephites had they continued, but they were doomed. The large number of this army would have been in the center, and unengaged at either front. Those were the ones that Mormon tells us that were confused. They had no effective leadership, and were not going to be able to mount a consistent battle line. Communication during the actual combat would have been difficult in ancient times, and this large number of soldiers in the center would have had to understanding of how to fight. Surrender was the more logical option.

Textual: This does not end a chapter in the 1830 edition.