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Book of Mormon Commentary
Alma Chapter 26
HELAMAN REPORTS ON CONDITIONS IN THE WEST, VER. 1-29
Alma 26:1 And now it came to pass in the commencement of the thirtieth year of the reign of the
Judges, in the second day, on the first month, Moroni received an epistle from Helaman, stating the
affairs of the people in that quarter of the land.
His epistle starts back four years when Helaman was asked to lead two thousand young men of the
people of Ammon to assist the Nephites. The latter had already been fighting nearly two years and
were about exhausted. The Lamanites had captured the fortified cities of Manti, Cumeni, Zeezrom,
and Antiparah, with much bloodshed on both sides (15).
When they arrived, Antipus, the Nephite leader in that part of the land, and his men were "toiling
with their mights to fortify" the city of Judea (16). They had suffered greatly, and "determined to
conquer in this place or die" (18).
Alma 26:19 And now it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that Antipus had received a greater
strength to his army, they were compelled, by the orders of Ammoron, to not come against the city of
Judea, or against us, to battle.
This was considered as due to divine favor, for the Nephites needed a respite to improve their
defenses.
The next year they felt strong enough to meet the Lamanites, but the latter would not come to
attack Judea. Antipus kept his spies watching day and night, lest the Lamanites should pass by to
attack their other cities to the north. He knew these were not strong enough to stand. His intention
was to make a rear attack if the Lamanites decided to march by them. But "they durst not pass by
us with their whole army, ...neither durst they march down against the city of Zarahemla; neither
durst they cross the head of Sidon, over to the city of Nephihah" (27,28).
LAMANITES DRAWN FROM ANTIPARAH AND DEFEATED, VER. 30-69
Alma 26:30 And now it came to pass, in the second month of this year, there was brought unto us many
provisions, from the fathers of those my two thousand sons.
They also received two thousand more men from Zarahemla. This made a garrison of ten
thousand, and put fear into the Lamanites. They began "to sally forth, if it were possible, to put an
end to our receiving provisions and strength" (33).
Antipus ordered Helaman to march with his sons ''as if we were carrying provisions to a
neighboring city." They were to go "near the city of Antiparah, as if we were going to the city
beyond" (35,36). Then Antipus marched out with a part of his army, leaving some to maintain the
city (38). The largest Lamanite army was stationed in Antiparah. When their spies reported that
Helaman's army was approaching, the Lamanites came out against them. Helaman fled north a
consider- able distance, with the Lamanites in full pursuit. But the army under Antipus was
following them. Helaman knew his young army was not strong enough to meet the enemy, so they
turned into the wilderness until it was dark (49). This chase continued for two days before it
halted. Helaman was not sure whether Antipus had overtaken the Lamanites, or whether they were
laying a snare for his army. He asked his sons, "Will ye go against them tq battle ?" They