In 3 Nephi 1:1 it states that "Lachoneus was the chief judge and the governor over the land." According to Stephen Ricks, in addition to Timothy (see the commentary on 3 Nephi 19:4), the name "Lachoneus" may also be a name of Greek origin, deriving from the Greek Lakonios, meaning "Laconian," referring to a people who lived in the southern part of the Greek mainland and who were among the most experienced merchants in Greece, maintaining colonies throughout the ancient Near East. The "ch" in the name Lachoneus is significant, accurately reflecting the tendency in Hebrew to change a "c" or "k" immediately after a vowel into a "ch" (Pronounced as in the name Bach or in the Scottish word loch) [Stephen D. Ricks, "I Have A Question," The Ensign, Oct. 1992, p. 54]
“Lachoneus Was the Chief Judge and the Governor Over the Land”
In 3 Nephi 1:1 it says that "Lachoneus was the chief judge and the governor over the land." Hugh Nibley asks, What's the Greek name Lachoneus doing here? Well, where was Laconia? Laconia was in the southeast Peloponnesus. In Lehi's day who ruled Palestine? Necho II of Egypt did. It was a commercial empire, but he kept it in control by mercenaries. He had a whole mercenary army and a mercenary navy of Carian fleets. . . . Along with that, major shipbuilding was along the coast of Laconia, which had wonderful harbors. Laconians--including Lacedamonians that went as far up as Sparta--were the best mercenary soldiers. They were mercenaries because they were not only great fighters, but they lived in a very poor, rocky, mountainous country. The only way they could make ends meet was to hire themselves out.
So the entire army of the kings of the 26th dynasty were employed Greeks from Laconia and elsewhere, but mostly from there. Both the sailors and soldiers were prime people from Laconia. So the fact that you find the name Lachoneus is certainly to be expected here, because you'd find guys by the name of Lachoneus walking around in Palestine in Lehi's day. They were the troops--not the troops of occupation or anything like that, because the kings were taking the side of Egypt. Remember, they were leaning on Egypt to support them against the threat from Asia, from the Babylonians. So don't be shocked when you see a name like Lachoneus here. It should be here. [Hugh W. Nibley, Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Semester 3, pp. 284-285]
3 Nephi 1:1 Lachoneus was the chief judge (Nephite Chief Priests) [[Illustration]]: Nephite Chief Priests. Adapted from [John W. Welch and Morgan A. Ashton, "Charting the Book of Mormon," Packet 1, F.A.R.M.S., 1997]