Comments on Alma 17 This chapter initially follows the chronology from the preceding chapter, but with v. 6 it jumps back some 14 years (cf. v. 4) to the start of the ministry to the Lamanites performed by sons of Mosiah. The text returns to the chronology of v. 1-5 in 27:16. v1-5 cover the reunion between Alma and the sons of Mosiah (v. 1- 2) and comment on how the mission to the Lamanites had made the sons of Mosiah spiritually strong (v. 3-5). v6-8 Mormon returns us back chronologically some 14 years to the time of the departure of the sons of Mosiah by recapping the pivotal events of Mosiah 28-29 (v. 6). He informs us they left Zarahemla taking only hunting weapons, no weapons of war, (v. 7) and they went up to the land of Nephi to preach the gospel to the Lamanites (v. 8). v9-16 The sons of Mosiah traveled a considerable distance through the wilderness to the land of Nephi. While they were traveling they fasted and prayed to have the Spirit with them on their mission to the Lamanites (v. 9). The Lord did bless them with His Spirit to comfort them (v. 10), and tells them to be patient in the afflictions they will suffer because by doing so they will help bring many people to salvation (v. 11). The sons of Mosiah and those with them take courage from the blessing by the Lord and proceed with the mission (v. 12). When they come to the borders of the lands of the Lamanites they split up and go their separate ways. They are filled with faith concerning the success of their mission and trust they will be reunited at the end of it (v. 13). Mormon then explains why it is they fasted and prayed and needed the Lord to comfort them. The Lamanites were "a wild and a hardened and a ferocious people" who were steeped in wickedness and violence (v. 14), as well as idolatry. Thus, they were cursed by God because of the wicked traditions passed down to them by their fathers. But, despite all of this, the Lord would forgive them if they repented (v. 15). And this is why the sons of Mosiah taken it upon themselves to preach the gospel to the Lamanites, so that some of them might possibly learn about the plan of redemption (v. 16). Their concern was the same as king Mosiah's in Mosiah 28:6- 8, and until their receive revelation from the Lord endorsing their mission and granting them support they aren't encouraged about the conditions they are going into. We are later informed in 26:27 that they had become so doubtful about their mission that the had become quite depressed and were seriously considering turning back and giving up. This suggests king Mosiah did not share the revelation in Mosiah 28:7 with them, as had they known that already it seems unlikely they would have required this additional promise from the Lord. v9 "fasted much", on arduous journey through the wilderness it is safe to assume their fasting was limited to Sabbaths when they wouldn't have traveled. v12 "and also those that were with them", the only two explicitly referenced in the ensuing account are Muloki and Ammah. In 21:11 it says "Muloki...and also Ammah and his brethren". We can assume from this the initial missionary party was at least 8 people (4 sons of Mosiah, Muloki, Ammah, and at least 2 "brethren" to make it plural, although if the "his" in "his brethren" is referring to Aaron and not Ammah then this would suggest the part was composed of only 6). v17 Given license I would insert a chapter break between v. 16 and 17. v20-24 Given the typically hostile responses detailed in v. 20- 21 it seems odd there is such a quick change in Lamoni's attitude in v. 24 given the relatively simple question and answer in v. 22-23. I would assume there is a lot of culture dependant meaning with implications not immediately apparent to us in the exchange in v. 22-23. Perhaps something to the effect that the Lamanite perception of Nephites was they were elitists who looked down on the Lamanites (which historically has been the case, cf. Jacob 3:3-9) and would therefore seek release rather than want to live among them. Lamoni's question in v. 22 would then be a set up for any typical Nephite producing a negative response, resulting in the hostile treatment detailed in v. 20. So, when Lamoni asks him if he wants to live among them he is disarmed by Ammon's emphatic response to the affirmative. If this is the case, he would have been doubly impressed by Ammon's request to be his servant. v24-25 "he would that Ammon should take one of his daughters to wife. But Ammon said unto him: Nay", this exchange gives us insight into the marriage practices of the Lamanites and probably the Nephites as well. Lamoni attempts to arrange a marriage, but Ammon declines without causing any real offense. This informs us arranged marriages were not out of the question, but there was no strong social convention about exercising choice in the matter. It also clearly indicates Ammon is single, as his reason for declining the marriage is not that he is already a married man. While Alma has settled down in Zarahemla as chief judge and high priest and is married and has children, the sons of Mosiah all apparently forestall marriage in favor of the missionary service. v25 "according to the custom of the Lamanites", being a shepherd is normally a solitary profession in the Bible where the shepherd protected the sheep from wild animals. However, it is plain from 18:7 that more than one servant was necessary because of the "practice of plunder among them". v26 "the waters of Sebus", there were apparently enough different separate pastures such that once the sheep were in their respective pastures there was no problem of them being scattered and mixed with other people's sheep, cf. v. 39. However, when it came time to water the sheep it would appear there was only one watering hole and all had to share it. Thus, the offenders could sit and wait at this place where they knew others would have to bring their sheep. v28 "the king will slay us", the king was apparently having the shepherds executed for failing to defend his sheep from plunder. One would think the threat of execution would have been more of an incentive to protect the sheep from those who would scatter them, but given the hostile nature of scatterers, who clearly outnumbered the shepherds, its pretty clear the shepherds were trapped in a situation where they faced death either way. v35 "they delighted in the destruction of their brethren", it is made plain the scatterers knew the servants were being executed because of losing the sheep, and not only did they not care, they even took pleasure in it. This is why Ammon's response is a violent one, because the people he is facing are murderous. v36 There is an exchange of sling stones between Ammon and the scatterers with only Ammon hitting them and them missing him, so they then attempt to rush him so as to overwhelm him. v37 While Ammon enjoyed a technological edge (pun intended) in the sword versus clubs, Mormon makes it clear in his opening remarks in v. 35 that the real reason he wasn't harmed was because of the promise the Lord had made to king Mosiah. v38 Ammon could have killed considerably more of them, but chose not to. v39 "bearing the arms", while it is a grisly display one would have to assume it was to prove their impossible sounding story was true. Copyright © 2001 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. 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