The hill Riplah is on the east side of the river Sidon. The hill Riplah is southward of the land of Manti, southward of the valley east of the river Sidon, and northward of the headwaters of the river Sidon.
Commentaries (
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ALMA 20:35 [43:31]: Therefore he divided his army, and brought a part over into the valley, and concealed them on the east, and on the south of the hill Riplah; and the remainder he concealed in the west valley, on the west of the river Sidon, and so down into the borders of the land of Manti.
Commentary: This verse references the places of the hill Riplah, Manti, the river Sidon, the valley east of the river Sidon, and the valley west of the river Sidon. The hill Riplah is on the east of the river Sidon and near a valley on the east of the river Sidon. There were valleys on both the east and west of the river Sidon. The valleys were higher in altitude than the land of Manti. The river Sidon is flowing northward, so the valleys and the hill Riplah were southward of the land of Manti. The phrase 'over into' refers to going over a ridge. So, this phrase means they went over the ridges that made up the valley.
ALMA 20:37 [43:34]: And it came to pass that the Lamanites came up on the north of the hill where a part of the army of Moroni was concealed.
Commentary: This verse references the places of the hill Riplah, Manti, and the headwaters of the River Sidon. The hill Riplah is south of the land of Manti. The Lamanites were coming from the headwaters of the river Sidon (moving south to north) and moving over the slopes of the hill Riplah.
ALMA 20:38 [43:35]: And as the Lamanites had passed the hill Riplah, and come into the valley, and began to cross the river Sidon, the army which was concealed on the south of the hill, which was led by a man whose name was Lehi; and he led his army forth and encircled the Lamanites about, on the east in their rear.
Commentary: This verse references the places of the hill Riplah, the river Sidon, and the valley east of the river Sidon. The Lamanites came through the wilderness, over hill Riplah, into a valley east of the river Sidon, and across the river Sidon. This puts the hill Riplah southward of the valley east of the river Sidon. The Lamanites were crossing the river from east to west.
ALMA 20:58 [43:52]: Therefore the armies of Moroni encircled them about; yea, even on both sides of the river; for behold, on the east, were the men of Lehi;
Commentary: This verse references the places of the hill Riplah, the river Sidon, and the valley east of the river Sidon. The men of Lehi were on the hill Riplah that is on the east of the river Sidon. To encircle an army requires being in close proximity to it. This indicates that the valley east of the river Sidon is in close proximity to the river Sidon and the stream, river or dry gulch in the valley would flow into the river Sidon.
ALMA 20:59 [43:53]: Therefore when Zerahemnah saw the men of Lehi on the east of the river Sidon, and the armies of Moroni on the west of the river Sidon, that they were encircled about by the Nephites, they were struck with terror.
Commentary: This verse references the places of the hill Riplah, river Sidon, and the South Wilderness. With valleys on the west and east of the river Sidon, the river Sidon would be flowing generally north and south near hill Riplah. It would be flowing away from the South Wilderness, which is higher in altitude than Zarahemla, so the river Sidon was flowing from the north to the south.
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