“Great Destruction Came Such an One As Never Had Been Known”

Alan C. Miner

During the reign of Shiblom, "the brother of Shiblom rebelled against him, and there began to be an exceeding great war in all the land." Shiblom's response was to put to death all the prophets "who prophesied of the destruction of the people." The record states that, they hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord, because of their wicked combinations; wherefore, there began to be wars and contentions in all the land, and also many famines and pestilences, insomuch that there was a great destruction, such an one as never had been known upon the face of the earth. (Ether 11:7)

So awful was this destruction that the people began to repent, but their king, Shiblom, was slain. A man by the name of Seth is mentioned here as being "brought into captivity, and did dwell in captivity all his days," yet nothing is said here about the genealogy of Seth. However, in Ether 1:11 we find that Seth was "the son of Shiblon."

While in captivity, Seth had a son he named Ahah. When Ahah reached manhood he escaped, organized a counter revolution, and recaptured the kingdom (apparently from his uncle, the brother of Shiblom). King Ahah was unrighteous and though he held the throne all his life, "he did cause the shedding of much blood; and few were his days."

Step by Step Through the Book of Mormon: A Cultural Commentary

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