The miserable monarch, slowly recovering from the ugly wounds of primitive weapons, found time to reflect upon the situation into which his country had been placed. The words of the prophets had been fulfilled. Two million mighty men, many with their wives and children, had perished during the insane conflict. The government had, of course, been neglected. No doubt, anarchy prevailed, and neither life nor property was safe. Sorrow filled the heart of the suffering king, and he refused to listen to false comforters. (v. 3) In this frame of mind he offered his rival, Shiz, the kingdom as the price of peace.
A generous proposition from his point of view, but had King Coriantumr abrogated his throne in favor of Shiz would it have righted any wrong already done? It appears that the legally-elected king was Coriantor, the father of Ether, and that he had been held as a prisoner all his life, presumably by Coriantumr. (11:23) In that case Coriantumr ought to have set the prisoner free and placed him on the throne, a position Coriantor justly was entitled to. The kings of the Jaredites were elected by the people. They could not be made or unmade by politicians, nor by commanders of insurgent armies. (6:24-30)
Coriantumr began to remember. The words of the prophets, although rejected, were not lost on Coriantumr. His awakening conscience repeated them, and caused him to fear and tremble. Shiz, however, rejected the proposition. He demanded the life of Coriantumr.