“Omer Begat Sons and Among them Were Esrom and Coriantumr”

Brant Gardner

Omer fathers children in captivity, and two sons, Esrom and Coriantumr, rebel against Jared2’s rule. They have sufficient followers to launch an attack against Jared but probably had a smaller army, hence the night attack. Such attacks were rare and more dangerous than daylight maneuvers. (See commentary accompanying Alma 56:38–39.) The night attack evened their odds, enabling them to overcome Jared’s palace guard. Capturing the king would be equivalent to capturing the kingdom, as has been the Jaredite pattern (Ether 7:7, 17; 8:3).

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 6

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