“It Is Your Breastplates and Your Shields That Have Preserved You”

Brant Gardner

Zerahemnah explicitly denies Yahweh’s might and therefore his role in the victory. Of course, he knows nothing about Alma’s revelation. He accuses Moroni of using unfair tactics (“your cunning”) and rather resentfully complains about the protective armor. Moroni had invoked Yahweh to imply that the Lamanites would lose any future battle as well; but Zerahemnah rejects both Yahweh and the inevitability of that outcome. Zerahemnah is willing to surrender the present, but not the future. But obviously he had a keen awareness of the code of honor operating on the battlefield, since he did not attempt to lie about his intentions.

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 4

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