This is the city of Boaz. Due to the practice of naming a land by the same name as the city, it is presumed to also be the land of Boaz. With smaller villages surrounding it, it follows the pattern that it was the major city in the land with the same name. The land of Boaz is northward of the land of Desolation, westward of the hill Shim, and southward of the land of Jordan, land of Sherrizah, and the lands around Jordan.
Commentaries (
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MORMON 2:22 [4:20]: And they fled again from before them, and they came to the city Boaz; and there they did stand against the Lamanites with exceeding boldness, insomuch that the Lamanites did not beat them until they had come again the second time.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Boaz, Desolation, and Teancum. The term 'they' refers to the Nephites. The term 'them' refers to the Lamanites. The Nephites were fleeing from the city Desolation and came to the city Boaz. The Lamanites were coming from the south. So, the city Boaz is northward of the city Desolation. The land of Teancum is next to the land Desolation on the northward side of the land Desolation, so the city Boaz is either northward of the land of Teancum or in another direction (more eastward) from the city Desolation than the land of Teancum. Given the number of times the Nephites had successfully defended the city of Teancum, the city Boaz may be northeast of the city Desolation.
MORMON 2:24 [4:22]: And it came to pass that the Nephites did again flee from before them, taking all the inhabitants with them, both in towns and villages.
Commentary: This verse references the place of Boaz and unnamed towns and villages. There are towns and villages around the city Boaz. This verse indicates that there are settlements that are considered different than cities. The implication is that these are smaller than the cities and surrounded the cities. This follows the pattern that the city Boaz is the major city in the land of the same name.
MORMON 2:25 [4:23]: And now I, Mormon, seeing that the Lamanites were about to overthrow the land, therefore I did go to the hill Shim, and did take up all the records which Ammoron had hid up unto the Lord.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Antum, Boaz, the hill Shim, and the Sea West. Mormon went to the hill Shim (in the land of Antum) from the city Boaz. There is no indication how close the two were together. It may imply that the way to the hill Shim from the land of Boaz is through an area where there were few, if any, Lamanites. If the Lamanites were pursuing the Nephites generally northward from the land Desolation, the route from the city Boaz to the hill Shim would then have to be eastward (westward would be the Sea West). This would also imply that the hill Shim is northward of the narrow neck where Lamanites had control.
MORMON 2:28 [5:3]: And it came to pass that the Lamanites did come against us as we had fled to the city of Jordan; but behold, they were driven back that they did not take the city at that time.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Boaz and Jordan. The Nephites were fleeing northward. The city of Jordan is northward of the city Boaz.
MORMON 2:31 [5:5]: But it came to pass that whatsoever lands we had passed by, and the inhabitants thereof were not gathered in, were destroyed by the Lamanites, and their towns, and villages, and cities were burned with fire; and thus the three hundred and seventy and nine years passed away.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Boaz, Jordan, and lands and cities around Jordan. The term 'we' refers to the Nephites. The phrase 'lands we had passed by' indicates that the Nephites had passed more than one land between the city Boaz and the city of Jordan.
MORONI 9:15 [9:15]: And again, my son, there are many widows and their daughters who remain in Sherrizah; and that part of the provisions which the Lamanites did not carry away, behold, the army of Zenephi has carried away, and left them to wander whithersoever they can for food; and many old women do faint by the way and die.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Boaz, Jordan, the lands and cities around Jordan, and Sherrizah. The phrase 'my son' refers to Moroni. The 'army of Zenephi' is referred to as different than the Lamanites, so the army of Zenephi is likely a Nephite army. The army of Zenephi had the opportunity to take the remaining provisions after the Lamanites carried away provisions. This indicates an area that is not under firm control by either the Lamanites or the Nephites. The flight of the Nephite army northward of the city Boaz through the lands and cities around Jordan to the city of Jordan and being able to defend the city of Jordan for a time could explain this situation. Occam's Razor would place the land of Sherrizah between the city Boaz and the city of Jordan.
MORONI 9:16 [9:17]: And the army which is with me, is weak; and the armies of the Lamanites are betwixt Sherrizah and me; and as many as have fled to the army of Aaron, have fallen victims to their awful brutality.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Boaz, Jordan, the lands and cities around Jordan, the narrow neck and Sherrizah. The term 'me' refers to Mormon. This verse was written in an epistle from Mormon to his son, Moroni. When Mormon was the age of 20, the Nephites and Lamanites negotiated an agreement giving the Nephites the lands northward of the narrow neck. The only locations that Mormon is recorded to have been after that date are the land Desolation, city of Teancum, city Boaz, city of Jordan, and the land of Cumorah. These lands are insufficient to place the land of Sherrizah. There are enough gaps between these lands and the narrow neck that the land of Sherrizah can be placed almost anywhere north of the narrow neck. However, the only location that explains a weak Nephite army, a Lamanite army in proximity to the Nephite army, and Lamanites capturing Nephite lands in proximity to the Nephite army would be the lands around the city Jordan that were between the city Boaz and the city of Jordan. So, using Occam's Razor, the land of Sherrizah may be one of the lands around the city of Jordan between the city of Jordan and the city Boaz.
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