But how was a person forced out of the community if he was dishonest and wouldn't even try to pay his debts? The Bible says the judges would order him to leave the community and if he tried to remain it would be at the risk of his life. Of course the offender could redeem his life by paying the debt. This is what Moses meant in Exodus 21:20 when he said: "If there be laid on him a sum of money [for a debt or damages he had caused] then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatever is laid upon him." In other words, the man either had to pay or leave the community to save his life. Of course, this extreme measure would only be used when all other remedies had been tried without success. Forcing an offender to leave the community was a measure of last resort. When you stop to think about it this was an ingenious way to keep people honest.
Now Alma gives us a complete account of their system of money.