The Lamanites are well-provisioned, and they begin harassing sorties. The Nephites can defend themselves, but cannot attack. Helaman notes that they are not receiving food. Thus the situation typical of a siege is reversed. The attacking army is the one that is not at the disadvantage. Since the supply lines to Manti have not been disrupted, Manti remains strong, and the lack of supplies begins to take its toll on Helaman’s troops. We saw with the fall of Cumeni that there was no little or no locally produced food. Cumeni fell through hunger, and those same problems now face the Nephite army.