No doubt Moroni's epistle to Pahoran was a terrible shock to the chief judge, but his reply to Moroni was just as shocking.
These five verses are fantastic. There has been a great revolution at Zarahemla. Pahoran has been forced to leave his position as chief judge and has fled to the land of Gideon which is east, across the river Sidon. Verse 3 says the rebellion is not only against Pahoran but against any of the people who were freemen. In other words, the king-men have seized control of the seat of government. Pahoran says he has fled over to Gideon with as many patriots as he could get to follow him. One can only imagine Moroni's tidal wave of compassion for Pahoran as he read this letter.