Apparently Ammoron considered his Nephite prisoners, who were all chief captains (see Alma 56:12), valuable bargaining power. However, knowing the strength of his position, he was only interested in freeing his own people who had been taken prisoner. His reasoning was sound, and he retook Antiparah without shedding of blood. We assume the twenty-eighth year (v. 5) was spent in regrouping and bargaining.