Yahweh had allowed his prophet, Nephi2, to be captured (Hel. 5:20–22) and even allowed Jaredite prophets to be killed in the past (Ether 9:28–29, 11:5), but Samuel escapes, returns to his own people, and never returns to the Nephites.
Chronology: The end of the eighty-sixth year translates to approximately 9 B.C., or five years before Samuel’s prophesied date of Christ’s birth, 4–5 B.C. (See commentary accompanying 3 Nephi 1:1.)