Alma 47:1 - 47:5

Alma 47: 1 Now we will return in our record to Amalickiah and those who had fled with him into the wilderness; for, behold, he had taken those who went with him, and went up in the land of Nephi among the Lamanites, and did stir up the Lamanites to anger against the people of Nephi, insomuch that the king of the Lamanites sent a proclamation throughout all his land, among all his people, that they should gather themselves together again to go to battle against the Nephites.

So what became of Amalickiah? When he made his escape from Moroni’s armies, he, with some of his followers, fled up to the land of Nephi. There he began to stir up the Lamanites to go to war against the Nephites. The king back the effort and commanded that all the Lamanites should gather together and prepare to attacked the Nephites.

Alma 47: 2 And it came to pass that when the proclamation had gone forth among them they were exceedingly afraid; yea, they feared to displease the king, and they also feared to go to battle against the Nephites lest they should lose their lives. And it came to pass that they would not, or the more part of them would not, obey the commandments of the king.

However, many of the Lamanites remembered what happened to their armies the last time they attacked and did not want to do again. The greater part of the Lamanite revolted against the king and would not obey him.

Alma 47: 3 And now it came to pass that the king was wroth because of their disobedience; therefore he gave Amalickiah the command of that part of his army which was obedient unto his commands, and commanded him that he should go forth and compel them to arms.

The king was not happy about not being obeyed so he put Amalickiah in charge of that part of the army that was still loyal to the king and gave him the assignment to compel the decenters to join up with the effort.

Alma 47: 4 Now behold, this was the desire of Amalickiah; for he being a very subtle man to do evil therefore he laid the plan in his heart to dethrone the king of the Lamanites.

Having command of the loyal members of the Lamanite army was just what Amalickiah wanted. With the army he now created a plan to remove the king from power.

Alma 47: 5 And now he had got the command of those parts of the Lamanites who were in favor of the king; and he sought to gain favor of those who were not obedient; therefore he went forward to the place which was called Onidah, for thither had all the Lamanites fled; for they discovered the army coming, and, supposing that they were coming to destroy them, therefore they fled to Onidah, to the place of arms.

Now when the decenters heard that the king was sending the loyal members of his army to compelled them to join them, they fled to Onidah. In Onidah was a cash of arms which the decenters thought they could defend themselves from the kings army.