This is the city of Kishkumen. Due to the practice of naming a land by the same name as the city, it is presumed to also be the land of Kishkumen. The city of Kishkumen was next to the city of Gad. Considering that the cities of Jacobugath and Zarahemla were also destroyed by fire, then the cities of Laman, Josh, Gad, and Kishkumen would be likely candidates for being in the proximity of these cities and stretching northward of the land of Zarahemla. Kishkumen (the person) is always mentioned in conjunction with the city of Zarahemla. Although there is no firm connection between Kishkumen (the person), the city of Kishkumen, and the city of Zarahemla, there is no information that would indicate that the city of Kishkumen was not in proximity of the land of Zarahemla.
Commentaries (
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HELAMAN 1:12 [1:12]: And Kishkumen, and his band who had covenanted with him, did mingle themselves among the people, in a manner that they all could not be found; but as many as were found, were condemned unto death.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Zarahemla and Kishkumen. Kishkumen had just murdered Pahoran in the city of Zarahemla. This verse indicates that Kishkumen and his band were no longer welcome in the land of Zarahemla and would have left the land of Zarahemla and settled somewhere else. The Nephites had a practice of naming a city after the first person that settled it. Thus, this verse implicates that Kishkumen and his band moved out of the land of Zarahemla and may have settled the city of Kishkumen. Kishkumen is always found in verses centered around the land of Zarahemla, so it may be that the city of Kishkumen is in proximity to the land of Zarahemla.
HELAMAN 1:49 [2:11]: And they took their flight out of the land, by a secret way, into the wilderness; and thus when Helaman sent forth to take them, they could nowhere be found. And more of this Gadianton shall be spoken hereafter.
Commentary: This verse references the places of the wilderness around Zarahemla and Zarahemla. The term 'they' refers to Gadianton and his band. The phrases 'out of the land' and 'into the wilderness' indicates there is wilderness outside the land of Zarahemla. Kishkumen had come to the city of Zarahemla with his band and had just been killed trying to murder Helaman. Kishkumen and his band had been living somewhere outside the land of Zarahemla. If that place had been the city of Kishkumen, the appearance of Kishkumen in the city of Zarahemla would indicate the city of Kishkumen is in proximity to the land of Zarahemla.
III NEPHI 4:8 [8:8]: And the city of Zarahemla did take fire; and the city of Moroni did sink into the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof were drowned;
Commentary: This verse references the places of Gad, Jacobugath, Josh, Kishkumen, Laman, Moroni, the Sea East, and Zarahemla. The city of Moroni is near enough to the Sea East shore to sink into the depths of the sea. By Occam's Razor, the city of Zarahemla would be near the other cities destroyed by fire. These would be the cities of Kishkumen, Gad, Josh, Laman, and Jacobugath.
III NEPHI 4:36 [9:9]: And behold, that great city Jacobugath, which was inhabited by the people of the king of Jacob, have I caused to be burned with fire, because of their sins and their wickedness, which was above all the wickedness of the whole earth, because of their secret murders and combinations;
Commentary: This verse references the places of Gad, Jacobugath, Josh, Kishkumen, Laman, and Zarahemla. Being destroyed by fire places it with the other lands that were destroyed by fire. These were the city of Laman, city of Josh, city of Gad, city of Kishkumen, and city Zarahemla. A 'great city' may indicate possibly a large number of inhabitants. Earlier verses called the area a kingdom, which would confirm a great city.
III NEPHI 4:38 [9:10]: And behold, the city of Laman, and the city of Josh, and the city of Gad, and the city of Kishkumen, have I caused to be burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof, because of their wickedness in casting out the prophets, and stoning those whom I did send to declare unto them concerning their wickedness and their abominations;
Commentary: This verse references the places of Gad, Jacobugath, Josh, Kishkumen, Laman, and Zarahemla. When places are listed in order in the same verse, they share a border in the order they are listed. So, these cities are located next to each other. However, this is the only verse that describes these cities and no information is provided about their location relative to other places. These cities and the cities of Jacobugath and Zarahemla were also destroyed by fire. Using Occam's Razor, these cities should be in proximity to the cities of Jacobugath and Zarahemla. Since the city of Jacobugath is north of the city of Zarahemla and none of these cities were mentioned in any of the descriptions of places south of the city of Zarahemla, again using Occam's Razor, these cities are probably north of the city of Zarahemla.
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