Cultural: It is significant that we are told that "Zoram and his sons" crossed the river with "their armies." In the world of the Book of Mormon, clan organizations were still very important, and the military organization apparently followed clan lines as well. Thus when Zoram generals an army, it is one that is derived from his kin group. As a leader in that kin group, he would certainly take his sons as further leaders of the army. We cannot tell the age of Zoram, but certainly if he had fighting age sons, Zoram had to be on the outside of his life as a combatant. He is there as the clan leader more than as a warrior.