Jacob says that the people loved Nephi exceedingly, not only as a great prophet but as a great protector. Ordinarily we do not think of Nephi as a commanding general, but Jacob assures that he had been. Nephi had wielded the famous sword of Laban in their defense in times of war, and during times of peace he had labored for their welfare. It is this verse which tells us that the prosperous city of Nephi had finally been discovered by the predatory Lamanites. Apparently they wandered up from their place of first inheritance and had stumbled on to the city of Nephi and had soon begun conducting raids upon it. In these emergencies Nephi had assumed the leadership and had earned the title of their protector as he went forth to lay his life on the line in hand-to-hand combat defending his people.