It seems that wicked King Heth and all his family perished in the famine. Nevertheless, "the Lord did send rain upon the face of the earth; and the people began to revive again, and there began to be fruit in the north countries, and in all the countries round about" (Ether 9:35). Apparently, some years later, a man named Shez began to build up this famine-stricken "broken people." Interestingly, we find in Ether 10:1 that Shez was a "descendant" of Heth." However, in Ether 1:25 it says that Shez was a "son" of Heth. According to Glenn Scott, this is another example of some translator not knowing if the Hebrew word BN, meant son or descendant.
Whatever his relationship, Shez was different from Heth. He remembered how the Lord had brought his ancestors across the great deep. He also remembered the destruction of his people under his wicked ancestor (or father). He ruled righteously and built and rebuilt many cities and the people once again spread over the land. He too lived to "an exceeding old age" (Ether 10:4), and in his old age begat Riplakish, and Riplakish (apparently the youngest) reigned in his stead. [Glenn A. Scott, Voices from the Dust: New Light on an Ancient American Record, p. 52]
Since the famine ended because "there began to be fruit in the north countries," apparently the Jaredite lands were located there. But where specifically did Shez rule from, the local land of Moron or land of Heth? [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes]