Redaction: Mormon previews the forthcoming events. Naturally, he knows the full story from his sources, but a literary decision might have been to withhold this information to heighten the tension. However, Mormon is not interested in the narrative as such but in Amalickiah’s character and motivations. He has ultimately little interest in this incident except that it helps define Amalickiah, who was and will be important in the Nephite history during these turbulent times.
Culture: See the commentary accompanying Mosiah 2:6 for “tents.”