Rhetoric: Finally Zeezrom asks his question, and now the debate—a contest for the minds and hearts of the people—begins in earnest. Zeezrom’s victory would not only signal the defeat of Yahweh’s message, but surely also signal the incarceration (or worse) of both Alma and Amulek. This is not a polite doctrinal disagreement between two pastors of different churches. This is a high-stakes contest fought with words for the spiritual control of a city.
Significantly, Zeezrom is not disconcerted by Amulek’s exposure of his motives. He does not even respond to that accusation. Instead, he calmly turns Amulek’s opening question turns to him. Zeezrom, however, is quite anxious that Amulek answer the questions, because he intends to find in the answer the weapon by which he can not only discredit both Amulek and Alma, but solidify the community’s resolve to be rid of them and their preaching.