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Book of Mormon Commentary
Alma Chapter 6
ALMA VISITS THE LAND OF MELEK, VER. 1-7
Alma 6:1 And now it came to pass that Alma returned from the land of Gideon, after having taught the
people of Gideon many things which can not be written, having established the order of the church,
according as he had before done in the land of Zarahemla;
This is the first mention of Melek. It seems to have been an extensive area, for Alma traveled
north three days before coming to the land of Ammonihah. The hill Amnihu, where the Amlicites
came to battle the Nephites, was “east of the river Sidon, which ran by the land of Zarahemla”
(1:70).
After Alma had finished his work in Gideon, "he returned to his own house at Zarahemla to rest”,
(Alma 6:2). Then he took his journey to Melek and began to teach the people throughout the land
(5).
Alma 6:6 And it came to pass that the people came to him throughout all the borders of the land which
was by the wilderness side.
Alma's ministry attracted many people to him from allover the land for counsel, and many were
baptized. The response of these people was so good that he soon pressed on north to the city of
Ammonihah.
ALMA IS CAST OUT OF AMMONIHAH, VER. 8-17
Alma 6:10 Now Satan had gotten great hold upon the hearts of the people of the city of Ammonihah;
therefore they would not hearken unto the words of Alma.
Soon after his arrival in the city "he began to preach the word of God unto them" (9). When they
gave evidence that they were not willing to hear him, Alma wrestled "with God in mighty prayer"
for the people (11). However, they only hardened their hearts and told him they knew he had built
up the church "according to your tradition; and we are not of thy church, and we do not believe in
such foolish traditions" (12,13). "Thou hast no power over us" (14).
Alma 6:15 And thou hast delivered up the judgment seat unto Nephihah; therefore thou art not the chief
judge over us.
The people made a bold resistance, since he had no civil power to punish them, and "withstood all
his words."
The climax was reached when the people "reviled him, and spit upon him, and caused that he
should be cast out of their city” (16) .One of the dirtiest and most humiliating ways to treat a
person is to spit upon him. Yet both the Old and New Testaments and the Book of Mormon record
instances of such insults. They even spit on Jesus the Christ at the trial and at his crucifixion. (See
Numbers 12:14; Job 30:10; Matthew 26:68; 27:32; 2 Nephi 5:60; Alma 10:44,69; 14:114.)
Following this persecution, they cast Alma out of their city, and he "took his journey towards the
city which was called Aaron" (16).