Comments on Helaman 4 In this chapter Mormon stops twice (cf. v. 11-13 and v. 20- 26) to interject some editorial commentary on what was going on with the Nephites. This breaks up and spiritualizes an otherwise relatively straightforward historical narrative. It also explains why Mormon was including these historical narratives when the BofM is primarily intended to be a spiritual text. v1-3 Contentions among the Nephites result in considerable fighting with fatalities (v. 1). The rebellious Nephites are killed off or driven out. Those who are driven out go to the king of the Lamanites (v. 2) and try to instigate aggression against the Nephites. But, the Lamanites remember the past losses against the Nephites so they ignore the dissenters (v. 3). v4-10 Two years later, more Nephite dissenters join with the earlier dissenters and succeed in stirring up the Lamanites for war (v. 4). The war commences and the Lamanites drive the Nephites before them and even take the political capital of Zarahemla (v. 5), forcing the Nephites to retreat (v. 6). The Nephites fortify a relatively short line of defense to keep the Lamanites at bay (v. 7), and thus the Lamanites capture all of the land south of that line of defense over the course of about three years (v. 8). After keeping the Lamanites at bay for about a year, Moronihah launches a two year counteroffensive and retakes about half of the lands they had lost to the Lamanites over about two (v. 9-10) v11-13 Mormon now comments on why it is the Nephites were suffering such great losses to the Lamanites. The Nephites would have been subjected to such great slaughter had it not been for their own wickedness (v. 11). Mormon then lists of the evil behaviors the Nephites were engaging in (v. 12), and states flatly it was because of these things, as well as their boasting in their own strength, the Lord left them to their own strength. The result is they are driven and destroyed by the Lamanites. v14-19 Moronihah, Lehi, and Nephi all take it upon themselves to preach repentance to the Nephites, warning them if they didn't repent they would be destroyed (v. 14). The Nephites do repent somewhat, so they prosper (v. 15). Moronihah launches counteroffensives against the Lamanites over the next year and regain half of the territory they lost to the Lamanites (v. 16-17), but after that they cannot take any more of the land back from them because they outnumber them (v. 18). Thus, the Nephite armies are forced into an entirely defensive position (v. 19). v19 Where the military tactics fail, preaching the gospel succeeds, cf. 5:51-52. v20-26 The Nephites are in fear of the very real threat of being entirely crushed by the Lamanites (v. 20), and this brings them to remembrance of the preaching of Mosiah and Alma (v. 21). They realize the majority of them have grown wicked and have distorted the laws to serve themselves (v. 22, cp. Mosiah 29:26-27). Because of these thing the people were apostatizing and abandoning the Church (v. 23). They realize the Lord had abandoned them to their own strength and was no longer supporting them by His Spirit (v. 24). Thus, being outnumbered by the Lamanites they had to rely on the Lord or they would be destroyed (v. 25). Thus had they become weak, just as carnal men, because of their sins (v. 26). This is precisely the kind of reaction the Lord wants to see when it comes to covenant curses. The curses of affliction and destruction at the hands of your enemies are intended to humble the prideful and make the arrogant sinner forsake his ways and return to the Lord, cf. Lev. 26, Deut. 28. Had these been Gentiles and not Israel, the Lord wouldn't have been obligated to preserve a remnant per the Abrahamic Covenant. So, they could be destroyed as were the Jaredites. But, the Israelite covenant requires the Lord to preserve at least a remnant. Thus, the Lord has to keep working on the people to get them to repent, rather than destroying them or allowing them to self-destruct. v20 "the greatness of the number of the Lamanites", with desertions from the Nephites to the Lamanites, desertions from the Nephites to the Gadianton Robbers, and the apparent mass migration northward, the Nephite population is undergoing serious decline even before you count war casualties. The desertions to the Lamanites and Robbers doesn't appear to be large thus far from the text. However, the text definitely suggests the migration northward is a substantial one, cf. 3:1- 12. 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. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.