It was concluded that perhaps Antipus had caught up with the Lamanites and were immediately compelled to fight a much larger force in their effort to survive. The big question was whether or not the 2,000 young striplings should go back and prevent Antipus and his smaller army from being slaughtered. In verse 47 we learn that Helaman's 2,000 young striplings had never participated in actual combat and yet they told Helaman they wanted to go back and help Antipus and his men before they were wiped out.