Paanchi's punishment seems harsh. He is condemned to death for his intent to commit treason in stirring up rebellion among the Nephites. However, in light of recent events among the Nephites, such a crime threatened the very fiber of their society. The decades of warfare had been because of those who had rebelled from the Nephites: the Zoramites, Amalickiah, Morianton, the kingmen, etc. Paanchi's rebellion could easily have led to a treaty with the Lamanites and more costly warfare. His sentence was necessary to cleanse the inner vessel. Unfortunately, his death was not enough to cleanse Zarahemla from wickedness.