Omer was begotten of Shule in his old age, therefore he was the fifth generation from those who left at the time of the great tower. Orihah was the youngest son of Jared (see Ether 6:14); Kib, the third generation, was begotten in Orihah’s old age (see Ether 7:7), and Shule was begotten in Kib’s old age (see Ether 7:7). Therefore, while Omer was the fifth generation from Jared, (the first), there may have been six and seven generations among the populace. These facts are pointed out to show that a long time had passed away in this brief abridgement.
The kings being kept in captivity has been shown by Dr. Hugh Nibley to be the custom from which the Jaredites left, “the well–known Despotism lacking none of the trimmings.”
Such is the practice, mentioned many times in the book, of keeping a king prisoner throughout his entire lifetime, allowing him to beget and raise a family in captivity, even though the sons thus brought up would be almost sure to seek vengeance for their parents and power for themselves upon coming of age… . It seems to us a perfectly ridiculous system, yet it is in accordance with the immemorial Asiatic system.