“With Four of My Men”

Brant Gardner

Zeniff’s people camp in the same place as the invading army had camped. While we don’t know enough to be able to place this location on a map, we may presume that it was close enough to the City of Nephi to be able to send spies (in the first mission) and an ambassadorial party (in this mission). Nevertheless, it would also have to be fairly far removed from the City of Nephi and in a secure location. The original army would have wanted to avoid detection, and the homesteaders with Zeniff likewise would want to have their safety secured before being exposed to a potential conflict if their treaty were refused.

Anthropological: Zeniff takes four men with him. As has been noted, the number four is significant in Mesoamerica, and is expected to show up in many circumstances. What is interesting here is that there were five men who approached the king of the city of Nephi – Zeniff and four others. In later Mesoamerican thought the symbolism of five is well entrenched, and it may have been present this early. The number five is the number for the center, with the four corners of the earth surrounding it. Perhaps taking four men with him emphasized Zeniff as the center of attention, the leader of his party.

Multidimensional Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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