The lands and cities around the city of Jordan refer to more than one city and land in proximity to the city of Jordan. Some of the lands are between the city Boaz and the city of Jordan. The land of Sherrizah may have been one of these lands.
Commentaries (
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MORMON 2:30 [5:4]: And there were also other cities which were maintained by the Nephites, which strongholds did cut them off that they could not get into the country which lay before us to destroy the inhabitants of our land.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Jordan and lands and cities around Jordan. There were other cities that were maintained by the Nephites around the city of Jordan. To cut off the Lamanites, these cities would have to be westward, eastward, or in both directions from the city of Jordan.
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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