It is interesting that after "having searched in vain" the army of King Noah apparently had no problems returning to the land of Lehi-Nephi when they could not overtake Alma and his followers (Mosiah 19:1). We can contrast the ease with which Noah's army returned home at this time with the problems of the Lamanite army which followed Limhi after he and his people escaped towards the land of Zarahemla. In Mosiah 22:16 it says that "after they [the Lamanite army] had pursued them [the people of Limhi] two days, they could no longer follow their tracks; therefore they were lost in the wilderness." And after being "lost in the wilderness for many days" (Mosiah 23:30), and after finding the priests of Noah in the land of Amulon (Mosiah 23:31) and stumbling upon the people of Alma in the land of Helam (Mosiah 23:35), they "promised unto Alma and his brethren, that if they would show them the way which led to the land of Nephi that they would grant unto them their lives and their liberty" (Mosiah 23:36).
In view of the almost opposite circumstances which each army found themselves in, perhaps the factor of distance traveled away from their local land was not the most important factor or the only factor involved for both armies. [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes] [See the commentary on Mosiah 22:15-16]
[Mosiah 19:2]: The Forces of the King Were Small, Having Been Reduced:
Mormon makes an interesting note that after the army of King Noah returned, "the forces of the king were small, having been reduced" (Mosiah 19:2). Why had these forces been reduced? Had their been a mutiny? Or had Noah made some bargains with his own people or the Lamanites in order to divert money or resources to other projects rather than fund a large army? There is no reference to any war having been fought. Perhaps the 450 people that followed Alma had made a significant difference in the population; however, if any of these 450 people were part of the army to begin with, how is it that Alma managed to keep his whereabouts a secret? Whatever the case, this reduction of Noah's army apparently allowed Gideon to lead a revolt (Mosiah 19:2-4). [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes]