Textual: Mormon gives us a preview of the events that will unfold. Of course he has the text in front of him, so he knows what happens before he writes. Nevertheless, one might withhold this piece of information in a story to heighten the tension and develop the story line. Mormon does not do this. His intent is not the development of the story, but the concentration on the nature and motivations of Amalickiah. This incident takes place among the Lamanites, and is ultimately of little interest to Mormon except that it helps define Amalickiah, who was and will be important in the history of the Nephites as Mormon continues his narrative of these turbulent times.