57:1 And now it came to pass that I received an epistle from Ammoron,
the king, stating that if I would deliver up those prisoners of war
whom we had taken that he would deliver up the city of Antiparah unto
us.
57:2 But I sent an epistle unto the king, that we were sure our forces
were sufficient to take the city of Antiparah by our force; and by
delivering up the prisoners for that city we should suppose ourselves
unwise, and that we would only deliver up our prisoners on exchange.
57:3 And Ammoron refused mine epistle, for he would not exchange
prisoners; therefore we began to make preparations to go against the
city of Antiparah.
57:4 But the people of Antiparah did leave the city, and fled to their
other cities, which they had possession of, to fortify them; and thus
the city of Antiparah fell into our hands.
57:5 And thus ended the twenty and eighth year of the reign of the
judges.
57:6 And it came to pass that in the commencement of the twenty and
ninth year, we received a supply of provisions, and also an addition to
our army, from the land of Zarahemla, and from the land round about, to
the number of six thousand men, besides sixty of the sons of the
Ammonites who had come to join their brethren, my little band of two
thousand. And now behold, we were strong, yea, and we had also plenty
of provisions brought unto us.
57:7 And it came to pass that it was our desire to wage a battle with
the army which was placed to protect the city Cumeni.
57:8 And now behold, I will show unto you that we soon accomplished our
desire; yea, with our strong force, or with a part of our strong force,
we did surround, by night, the city Cumeni, a little before they were
to receive a supply of provisions.
57:9 And it came to pass that we did camp round about the city for many
nights; but we did sleep upon our swords, and keep guards, that the
Lamanites could not come upon us by night and slay us, which they
attempted many times; but as many times as they attempted this their
blood was spilt.
57:10 At length their provisions did arrive, and they were about to
enter the city by night. And we, instead of being Lamanites, were
Nephites; therefore, we did take them and their provisions.
57:11 And notwithstanding the Lamanites being cut off from their
support after this manner, they were still determined to maintain the
city; therefore it became expedient that we should take those
provisions and send them to Judea, and our prisoners to the land of
Zarahemla.
57:12 And it came to pass that not many days had passed away before the
Lamanites began to lose all hopes of succor; therefore they yielded up
the city unto our hands; and thus we had accomplished our designs in
obtaining the city Cumeni.
57:13 But it came to pass that our prisoners were so numerous that,
notwithstanding the enormity of our numbers, we were obliged to employ
all our force to keep them, or to put them to death.
57:14 For behold, they would break out in great numbers, and would
fight with stones, and with clubs, or whatsoever thing they could get
into their hands, insomuch that we did slay upwards of two thousand of
them after they had surrendered themselves prisoners of war.
57:15 Therefore it became expedient for us, that we should put an end
to their lives, or guard them, sword in hand, down to the land of
Zarahemla; and also our provisions were not any more than sufficient
for our own people, notwithstanding that which we had taken from the
Lamanites.
57:16 And now, in those critical circumstances, it became a very
serious matter to determine concerning these prisoners of war;
nevertheless, we did resolve to send them down to the land of
Zarahemla; therefore we selected a part of our men, and gave them
charge over our prisoners to go down to the land of Zarahemla.
57:17 But it came to pass that on the morrow they did return. And now
behold, we did not inquire of them concerning the prisoners; for
behold, the Lamanites were upon us, and they returned in season to save
us from falling into their hands. For behold, Ammoron had sent to their
support a new supply of provisions and also a numerous army of men.
57:18 And it came to pass that those men whom we sent with the
prisoners did arrive in season to check them, as they were about to
overpower us.
57:19 But behold, my little band of two thousand and sixty fought most
desperately; yea, they were firm before the Lamanites, and did
administer death unto all those who opposed them.
57:20 And as the remainder of our army were about to give way before
the Lamanites, behold, those two thousand and sixty were firm and
undaunted.
57:21 Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of
command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was
done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me
that their mothers had taught them.
57:22 And now behold, it was these my sons, and those men who had been
selected to convey the prisoners, to whom we owe this great victory;
for it was they who did beat the Lamanites; therefore they were driven
back to the city of Manti.
57:23 And we retained our city Cumeni, and were not all destroyed by
the sword; nevertheless, we had suffered great loss.
57:24 And it came to pass that after the Lamanites had fled, I
immediately gave orders that my men who had been wounded should be
taken from among the dead, and caused that their wounds should be
dressed.
57:25 And it came to pass that there were two hundred, out of my two
thousand and sixty, who had fainted because of the loss of blood;
nevertheless, according to the goodness of God, and to our great
astonishment, and also the joy of our whole army, there was not one
soul of them who did perish; yea, and neither was there one soul among
them who had not received many wounds.
57:26 And now, their preservation was astonishing to our whole army,
yea, that they should be spared while there was a thousand of our
brethren who were slain. And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous
power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had
been taught to believe—that there was a just God, and whosoever did not
doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power.
57:27 Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are
young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God
continually.
57:28 And now it came to pass that after we had thus taken care of our
wounded men, and had buried our dead and also the dead of the
Lamanites, who were many, behold, we did inquire of Gid concerning the
prisoners whom they had started to go down to the land of Zarahemla
with.
57:29 Now Gid was the chief captain over the band who was appointed to
guard them down to the land.
57:30 And now, these are the words which Gid said unto me: Behold, we
did start to go down to the land of Zarahemla with our prisoners. And
it came to pass that we did meet the spies of our armies, who had been
sent out to watch the camp of the Lamanites.
57:31 And they cried unto us, saying—Behold, the armies of the
Lamanites are marching towards the city of Cumeni; and behold, they
will fall upon them, yea, and will destroy our people.
57:32 And it came to pass that our prisoners did hear their cries,
which caused them to take courage; and they did rise up in rebellion
against us.
57:33 And it came to pass because of their rebellion we did cause that
our swords should come upon them. And it came to pass that they did in
a body run upon our swords, in the which, the greater number of them
were slain; and the remainder of them broke through and fled from us.
57:34 And behold, when they had fled and we could not overtake them, we
took our march with speed towards the city Cumeni; and behold, we did
arrive in time that we might assist our brethren in preserving the
city.
57:35 And behold, we are again delivered out of the hands of our
enemies. And blessed is the name of our God; for behold, it is he that
has delivered us; yea, that has done this great thing for us.
57:36 Now it came to pass that when I, Helaman, had heard these words
of Gid, I was filled with exceeding joy because of the goodness of God
in preserving us, that we might not all perish; yea, and I trust that
the souls of them who have been slain have entered into the rest of
their God.