When Abinadi is given up to Noah, it is important that we understand that this is an orderly society responding to disorder in an orderly way. While Mormon clearly paints an unsympathetic picture of Noah's people, it is from his religious perspective that he does so. From their own perspective, they appear to be a people who are governed. Mob action does not take Abinadi and deal with him directly, but rather he is handed over to authority. While under custody, this Abinadi who appears to have made threats against the king and all of society will yet have a trial (or form of a trial) and will not be executed on simple whim.