For hundreds of years the descendants of Lehi had been divided into two major groups, the Nephites and the Lamanites. These terms were originally used to denote those who followed after the first two major leaders, Nephi and Laman. However, by the period of 74 B.C., several dissident and apostate Nephite groups had joined with the Lamanites and had become known as Lamanites. Thus the historian says the Lamanites "were a compound of Laman and Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, and all those who had dissented from the Nephites, who were Amalekites and Zoramites, and the descendants of the priests of Noah." (Alma 43:13.)
The "descendants of the priests of Noah" in this verse refer to Amulon and his brethren, and their descendants. (See Mosiah 23:31-32.) The Zoramites refer to the apostate Nephites who had previously lived in the land of Antionum. The Book of Mormon does not provide any further information concerning the apostate group known as the "Amalekites." The "Amlicites" were another apostate Nephite group that previously had joined with the Lamanites. (See Alma 2 and 3.) However, the Amlicites are not mentioned in this new listing, and whether or not they have any connection with the Amalekites is not made clear.