“The King Was Greatly Astonished”

Brant Gardner

Redaction: This verse not only reports the rest of the old king’s speech but also explains what he was thinking. No doubt Ammon was the source of the first piece of information, but the explanation of the old king’s thoughts feels more like one of Mormon’s interpretations. I hypothesize that Mormon, impressed by Ammon and his words, was filling in the old king’s motivations with an explanation that made sense to him. It seems unlikely that the old king explained himself to a Nephite.

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 4

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