While the LDS edition has the phrase, "and [Samuel] did flee out of their lands, yea, even unto his own country," we find that the Printers Manuscript has the phrase, "and [Samuel] did flee out of their hands." [Zarahemla Research Foundation, A Comparison of the Manuscripts and Editions of the Book of Mormon, p. 205]
Note* Because the text says that Samuel fled out of their "hands" instead of out of their "lands," we are left with some questions: (1) Helaman 13:2 notes that "Samuel, a Lamanite, came into the land of Zarahemla, and began to preach." So does the term "land of Zarahemla" refer to a local land or a general land? The narrative seems to imply that although Samuel prophesied concerning a number of cities (see Helaman 13:15-16) he apparently only visited the city of Zarahemla (see Helaman 13:4,12,21) This might imply that the term "land of Zarahemla" is a local term. However, the local land of Zarahemla was also the seat of power for the larger land of Zarahemla. (2) To what "country" did the Lamanite Samuel flee to (or come from)? The text only says that he "came into the land of Zarahemla" (Helaman 13:2). (3) The superscription just before the present chapter 13 reads: "The prophecy of Samuel the Lamanite to the Nephites." If Samuel fled out of their hands "even to his own country," then how was it that apparently his exact words got into the hands of Mormon the abridger?
If people from the land of Zarahemla had gone into the land Northward (Alma 63:4; Hel 3:3-4) and if the people of Ammon went into the land northward (Helaman 3:13), and if the people of Ammon "never did fall away" (Alma 23:5-7), could Samuel have been one of the righteous Lamanites from the people of Ammon sent to save the Nephites from destruction? Note in Helaman 15:4 he says: "But behold my brethren." [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes; see also the commentary by Jerry Ainsworth on Helaman 3:13]