“The first chief judge was Alma the Younger. … As chief judge, Alma conducted the military affairs of his people and fought in hand-to-hand combat against Amlici, the leader of the insurgents (see Alma 2:29).
“Six years later, however, the previously unmentioned Zoram led the Nephites in battle as their ‘chief captain’—a position to which he had been ‘appointed’ (Alma 16:5). This office was legally constituted as a result of the division of governmental powers that resulted when Alma relinquished the judgment seat. Alma retained control of religious affairs as high priest but conferred power over judicial matters upon Nephihah as chief judge (see Alma 4:16–18). Evidently, military power was given to the chief captain” (Welch, “Law and War in the Book of Mormon,” 53–54).