Mormon needs to explain the transition from prostrate servants to a dead king. Because the king raised the first servant by taking his hand (or at least by extending his own), he expected the servant to rise. The gesture, however, leaves him without a weapon in his own hand or unable to grasp one quickly. Also, he could not use his forearm to take a blow, thus preventing the servant from striking a fatal spot in his torso. Amalickiah’s strength of personality must have been significant to create followers who were willing to kill a king for him. Perhaps these were of the people of Lehonti who had already separated and rebelled against the over-king.