The Nephites, caught flatfooted by the attack’s speed and unexpected location, responded quickly enough to pursue the retreating Lamanite army, encumbered by its captives. It is not surprising that they wanted to rescue the prisoners, not only to deprive their enemies, the Lamanites, of their spoils and to save their countrymen, but also prisoners in Maya territories at this time would face probable torture and sacrifice. Furthermore, their capture conferred political prestige on the Lamanites. Rescuing the prisoners would deny the Lamanites much of the glory of their successful attack.
This verse also discloses a military function for the Nephites’ religious leader. The Old Testament supplied Moses as an Old Testament model of a priest whose duties included guidance during war (see Moses holding Yahweh’s staff during the battle against Amalek, Ex. 17:9–13), but the Nephite model may be related to the interpreters that were part of the royal possessions. Mormon does not specify that Alma consulted the interpreters, but they were apparently available for such use, as defined in Mosiah 8:17: “But a seer [one who has the interpreters] can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known.”
Since Alma received the interpreters when he became high priest and chief judge (Mosiah 28:20), he may have retained them as their guardian, once the royal line ceased. The high priest’s possession of them would have been logical, because they worked only for those whom the Lord commanded to use them (Alma 8:13).
Culture: Zoram is certainly named after the servant who traveled with Lehi1’s party. Although that Zoram was a servant in Jerusalem, he was a full member of the Lehite community. The preservation of his name indicates that it was associated with good memories and histories. In contrast, the existing Book of Mormon text includes no record of Nephites named Laman or Lemuel.
Speculation:One of Zoram’s sons who is involved in this expedition is named Lehi. While there is no evidence that he is the same Lehi who was Captain Moroni’s trusted captain (Alma 43:39–40), I hypothesize that it is the same person. Military positions appear to run in lineages; at least, Moroni’s son, Moronihah, inherited his father’s position (Alma 62:43). Zoram’s son could, and probably would, have followed his father in military service.