Alma 21:11 Textual Variants

Here the 1837 edition replaced “the synagogue” with “their synagogue”. Either reading (“the synagogue” or “their synagogue”) will theoretically work. Earlier in verse 5, the text established that Aaron had “entered into one of their synagogues”, so “the synagogue” is perfectly acceptable here in verse 11. In fact, “their synagogue” implies that they had only one in the city of Jerusalem, which would be incorrect:

• Alma 21:4–5
  • and it came to pass that Aaron came to the city of Jerusalem and firstly began to preach to the Amlicites and he began to preach to them in their synagogues for they had built synagogues after the order of the Nehors … therefore as Aaron entered into one of their synagogues to preach unto the people …

In fact, the two instances of “their synagogues” in verses 4 and 5 may have prompted the 1837 compositor to set “their synagogue” in verse 11. The critical text will restore the original use of the before synagogue in Alma 21:11.