These verses are included to show that prophecy is fulfilled. Abinadi had prophesied that the seed of the priests who caused that Abinadi should suffer death by fire should themselves suffer death by fire. Verse 12 specifically notes that many were put to death by fire, thus fulfilling the prophecy. Nevertheless, not all were. Many were simply hunted and then killed, “even as a sheep having no shepherd is driven and slain by wild beasts.”