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Book of Mormon Commentary
Ether Chapter 6
Coriantumr gathered his armies at the hill Comnor in the valley of Shurr. There he "did sound a
trumpet unto the armies of Shiz, to invite them forth to battle" (66). He came forth twice but was
driven back. On the third engagement, Shiz smote Coriantumr and "gave him many deep wounds"
(69). He fainted from the loss of blood and was carried away as though he were dead (70). The
losses on both sides were so great that Shiz commanded his army not to pursue (71).
THE , END OF A GREAT NATION, VER. 72-109
Ether 6:72 And it came to pass when Coriantumr had recovered of his wounds, he began to
remember the words which Ether had spoken unto him;
“He saw that there had been slain by the sword already nearly two millions of . . . mighty men,
and also their wives and their children. He began to repent of the evil which he had done." He saw
that the words of the prophets had been "fulfilled, thus far, every whit, and his soul mourned, and
refused to be comforted" (73, 74).
He wrote an epistle to Shiz offering to give up the kingdom if he would spare the people. Shiz
answered "that if he would give himself up, that he might slay him with his own sword, that he
would spare the lives of the people" (75, 76).
This only increased the anger of the people on both sides, and another battle ensued. "When
Coriantumr saw that he was about to fall, he fled again before the people of Shiz" and came to the
waters of Ripliancum. Here "Cortantumr was wounded again, and he fainted with the loss of
blood" (79, 81). But his armies "did press upon the armies of Shiz, that they beat them." They fled
southward to Ogath (82). Coriantumr's armies took their stand at the hill Ramah. Here in four
years they gathered all the people, "save it was Ether" (84, 85). They armed men, women, and
children, and fought all day without either side conquering. When they retired to their camps, "a
howling and a lamentation for the loss of the slain" did "rend the air exceedingly" (88). The next
day and night was very similar. Then Coriantumr wrote to Shiz again, desiring that lie would not
come again to battle, but take the kingdom and spare the lives of the people (91).
But the Spirit of the Lord had ceased to strive with them, and Satan had full control, so they
resumed the battle. They fought the next day, slept on their swords, and continued the battle the
next morning. The historian said, "They were drunken with anger, even as a man who is drunken
with wine" (94). They slept on their swords that night and resumed the battle the next day. By
night there were only fifty-two of Coriantumr's people left, and sixty-nine of the people of Shiz.
They again slept on their swords and fought the next clay. By night Shiz had thirty- two men left
and Coriantumrhad twenty-seven.
Ether 6:98 And it came to pass that they ate and slept, and prepared for death on the
morrow.
"They were large and mighty men, as to the strength of men" (99). After three hours of fighting,
they all were faint from the loss of blood. After a little rest and renewed strength, Coriantumr and
his men fled, but Shiz arose and swore in his wrath that he would slay Coriantumror perish (101).
He pur- Sued and overtook them the next clay. When all had fallen but the two leaders, Shiz
fainted. Coriantumr leaned on his sword and rested a little, then beheaded Shiz.
Coriantumr fell exhausted to the earth. Then the Lord told Ether, "Go forth" (107). He went forth
and saw that the destruction of the race was complete, except for Coriantumr, who lingered for a