Riplakish returns to the evil-king model. After his more righteous father, Riplakish once again turns away from the ways of God and toward the culture of the surrounding world. The first indication is that he has many wives and concubines. Since it would appear that polygamy is at least implied for the founding fathers (Jared and the brother of Jared) the question becomes one of the contrast between approved polygamy and disapproved polygamy, the very issue with which Jacob the brother of Nephi will struggle in his discourse to his people recorded in Jacob 2. It is highly likely that the reasons that this is seen as not doing “that which was right in the sight of the Lord,” comes from the importation of the cultural modes of the pagan surrounding culture rather than the specifics of polygamy (see the commentary on Jacob 2 for more information on this issue).
Riplakish also lays heavy tax burdens on his people. The word “tax” is surely a modernism added in the translation, because there was no system of taxation as we understand it. However, the descriptions we have of what Riplakish did is consistent with conscripted labor, and debt-slavery. (Debt-slavery is know for the late Maya. See (David Webster. The Fall of the Ancient Maya. Thames & Hudson, 2002, p. 97).
Chronology: The average-reign chronology places the reign of Riplakish at 800-770 B.C., although verse 8 tells us that he reigned for forty two years rather than the estimated 30.
This time period is well inside the Intermediate Olmec Period (900-600 B.C.) This is the time period of the greatest florescence of the Olmec. The descriptions of the labor conscriptions and a wealth of Riplakish, as well as his building projects fit in with the known cultural florescence during this time period. Riplakish’s evil was in the adoption of the culture of the pagan world, and in the heavy price he imposed upon his people to achieve worldly wealth (and probably recognition).