“Jared Rebelled Against His Father Omer”

Brant Gardner

Jared2 is Omer’s son and Shule’s grandson, therefore part of a ruling line but probably not the heir. Otherwise, he would have inherited the kingdom in due course. Instead he disrupts the peace Shule had established by founding another city-kingdom in the land of Heth. This action suggests that he was ambitious and unable to achieve the desired power in his own land.

Our political geography now has three “lands.” Moron is the ancestral homeland, with Nehor and Heth being two other lands with at least separatist intents, even when they are technically in Moron’s polity.

Jared was apparently uncontested in establishing Heth. Many turned to this newer city, recruited by Jared’s flattering and “cunning words.” Moroni provides no details, but almost certainly Jared was promising something better in the new city. He succeeded in establishing a new power base, attacked and captured his father, and thus controlled both Heth and Moron (and probably Nehor). Again, Omer was not killed but simply “serve[d] in captivity.” This pattern again shows how the threat against Shule departed from the captivity pattern, casting further doubt on its validity. (See commentary accompanying Ether 7:18.)

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 6

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