Helaman 1:22 Textual Variants

In this passage, the 1830 compositor, John Gilbert, set commas between each conjoined predicate (that is, before each of the three and ’s). All the subsequent printed editions have retained this punctuation. However, the last comma (the third one) is an error since it implies that there were four possibilities for the Nephites (fleeing, being slain, being taken, and being cast into prison) when in fact there are only three: fleeing, being slain, and being taken and cast into prison. Elsewhere the text treats being taken and being cast into prison as a single act:

• Alma 9:33 the Lord did not suffer them that they should take me at that time and cast me into prison
• Alma 20:30 and there they were taken and cast into prison
• Alma 21:13 Aaron and a certain number of his brethren were taken and cast into prison
• Alma 51:19 and those of their leaders which were not slain in battle were taken and cast into prison
• Alma 62:9 and also those kingmen which had been taken and cast into prison
• Helaman 5:21 they were taken by an army of the Lamanites and cast into prison
• Helaman 9:9 and that the murderers had been taken and was cast into prison
• Helaman 10:16 and they could not take him to cast him into prison

The last example directly shows the connection between being taken and being cast into prison. Sometimes the text also refers to binding those who have been taken (prior to casting them into prison):

• Mosiah 17:5 the king caused that his guards should surround Abinadi and take him and they bound him and cast him into prison
• Mosiah 21:23 he caused that they should be taken and bound and cast into prison
• Alma 26:29 and we have been stoned and taken and bound with strong cords and cast into prison

The critical text will therefore treat the last two conjoined predicates in Helaman 1:22 as acting together as a single predicate in contrast to the two preceding conjoined predicates.