This is the land and city of Gideon. The river Sidon is in between the land of Gideon and the land of Minon. The land of Gideon is on the east side of the river Sidon. There is a valley of Gideon located in the land of Gideon. The land of Gideon is southward of the land of Zarahemla, northward of the land of Manti, and in proximity to the land of Jershon. There is a ridge between the land of Gideon and the land of Jershon, and there is a ridge between the land of Gideon and the land of Zarahemla.
Commentaries (
view it on a map)
ALMA 1:84 [2:27]: And behold, as they were crossing the river Sidon, the Lamanites and the Amlicites, being as numerous almost, as it were, as the sands of the sea, came upon them to destroy them;
Commentary: This verse references the places of Gideon, Minon, the river Sidon, and Zarahemla. The term 'they' refers to the people of Nephi. The crossing of the river Sidon is between the land of Gideon and the land of Minon. They were crossing the river Sidon from the land of Gideon to the land of Minon. So, the land of Gideon is on the opposite side of the river than the land of Minon. The lands of Zarahemla and Minon are on the west side of the river Sidon. That the lands of Zarahemla and Minon and the valley of Gideon are so closely located near the river Sidon indicates the valley of Gideon is part of the drainage system for the river Sidon.
ALMA 4:7 [6:7]: And now it came to pass that when Alma had made these regulations, he departed from them, yea, from the church which was in the city of Zarahemla,
Commentary: This verse references the places of Gideon, the valley of Gideon, and Zarahemla. Alma departed from the land of Zarahemla to the valley of Gideon (which is in the land of Gideon).
ALMA 4:8 [6:7]: And went over upon the east of the river Sidon, into the valley of Gideon, there having been a city built which was called the city of Gideon, which was in the valley that was called Gideon, being called after the man who was slain by the hand of Nehor with the sword.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Gideon, a ridge between Gideon and Zarahemla, the river Sidon, and the valley of Gideon. The person traveling in this verse is Alma. He left Zarahemla to go to Gideon. The valley of Gideon is on the east side of the river Sidon. Valleys have ridges on either side of a river. The river in the valley Gideon would not be the river Sidon, so there is another river that is in the valley of Gideon that empties into the river Sidon. The phrase 'went over' means Alma went over some ridge between the city of Zarahemla and the valley of Gideon. This verse also implies that the land of Zarahemla is on the west of the river Sidon.
ALMA 4:9 [6:8]: And Alma went and began to declare the word of God unto the church which was established in the valley of Gideon, according to the revelation of the truth of the word which had been spoken by his fathers,
Commentary: This verse references the places of Gideon and the valley of Gideon. The valley of Gideon is in the land of Gideon. The phrase 'in the valley of Gideon' implies that the land of Gideon is generally contained within the valley.
ALMA 12:1 [17:1]: And now it came to pass that as Alma was journeying from the land of Gideon, southward, away to the land of Manti, behold, to his astonishment, he met the sons of Mosiah, journeying towards the land of Zarahemla.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Gideon, Manti, the river Sidon, and Zarahemla. The sons of Mosiah were traveling from the land of Nephi to the land of Zarahemla. The river Sidon ran past the land of Manti and the land of Gideon. Following the river Sidon is a likely navigation route where both would meet. This verse also locates the land of Manti southward of the land of Gideon.
ALMA 16:23 [30:21]: And he came over into the land of Gideon, and began to preach unto them also; and here he did not have much success, for he was taken and bound, and carried before the high priest, and also the chief judge over the land.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Gideon, Jershon, and a ridge between Gideon and Jershon. There is a route between the land of Jershon and the land of Gideon. The term 'over into' means there is a ridge between the land of Jershon and the land of Gideon. A valley (the valley of Gideon) is defined by two ridges and would suffice as the ridge referenced in this verse.
ALMA 16:37 [30:29]: But they caused that he should be bound; and they delivered him up into the hands of the officers, and sent him to the land of Zarahemla, that he might be brought before Alma and the chief judge, who was governor over all the land.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Gideon and Zarahemla. The term 'they' refers to high priest and chief judge in the city of Gideon. The term 'him' refers to Korihor. The land of Gideon is in proximity to the land of Zarahemla.
ALMA 29:4 [62:4]: And he did raise the standard of liberty in whatsoever place he did enter, and gained whatsoever force he could in all his march towards the land of Gideon.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Gideon and Manti. The term 'he' refers to Moroni. Moroni left the city of Manti to go to the land of Gideon.
ALMA 29:7 [62:7]: And it came to pass that Moroni and Pahoran went down with their armies into the land of Zarahemla, and went forth against the city, and did meet the men of Pachus, insomuch that they did come to battle.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Gideon and Zarahemla. The phrase 'went down' indicates that the land of Gideon is higher in elevation than the land of Zarahemla. This would put the land of Gideon upstream from the land of Zarahemla. Since Moroni was traveling from the city of Manti to the land of Gideon and then to the land of Zarahemla, the land of Gideon is between the city of Manti and the land of Zarahemla. The river Sidon flows from the south to the north, so the lands of Gideon and Manti are south of the land of Zarahemla.
Map
