“Kishkumen Who Had Murdered Pahoran Did Lay Wait to Destroy Helaman Also”

According to Michael Hobby, with Pahoran out of the way (Helaman 1:9), and also Pacumeni (Helaman 1:21), the Mulekite faction who had supported Paanchi were now only one assassination away from frustrating Nephite law. The sons of Helaman₃ were not old enough to fill the judgment-seat should anything happen to their father (see Helaman 3:21). Further, like Alma₂ in the beginning, Helaman₃ now was both High Priest and Chief Judge. Had Kishkumen (notice the Jaredite root in his name) not been discovered by one of the servants of Helaman₃, he would have murdered Helaman₃ on instructions from Gadianton. This would have opened up the way for a Mulekite to obtain the Judgment-seat, thereby consolidating power in the hands of the dissident Mulekites. Although Gadianton had to flee into the wilderness, he was able to convert that faction which had supported Paanchi (Helaman 1:7) into a guerilla band, which drew it's Mulekite based strength from that portion of society outside the church. [Michael M. Hobby, The Mulekite Connection, p. 47]