This is the land and city of Minon. The land of Minon was in proximity to the valley and land of Gideon. The land of Minon was southward of the lands of Zarahemla, Ammonihah, and Sidom. It was on the west side of the river Sidon and in proximity to the city of Ammonihah. The Hermounts were northwest of the land of Minon.
Commentaries (
view it on a map)
ALMA 1:76 [2:20]: And it came to pass that when Alma could pursue the Amlicites no longer, he caused that his people should pitch their tents, in the valley of Gideon, the valley being called after that Gideon who was slain by the hand of Nehor with the sword; and in this valley the Nephites did pitch their tents for the night.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Minon, the valley of Gideon, and Zarahemla. The valley of Gideon is a pursuit distance from the land of Zarahemla. The valley of Gideon is also near the land of Minon since spies could go from the valley of Gideon to the land of Minon and back in less than a day.
ALMA 1:80 [2:24]: Behold, we followed the camp of the Amlicites, and to our great astonishment, in the land of Minon, above the land of Zarahemla, in the course of the land of Nephi, we saw a numerous host of the Lamanites;
Commentary: This verse references the places of Minon, Nephi, the valley of Gideon, and Zarahemla. The term 'we' refers to Alma and his people. Amlicites, in the land of Minon, were within one day of the Nephites, who were camped in the valley of Gideon. The phrase 'in the course of' indicates the land of Minon is generally in line between the lands of Zarahemla and Nephi. This would put the land of Minon southward of the land of Zarahemla. The phrase 'above the land of Zarahemla' means that the land of Minon is higher in altitude than the land of Zarahemla. This is in agreement with the land of Nephi being higher in elevation than the land of Zarahemla. Any land between the land of Zarahemla and the land of Nephi would also be higher in elevation than the land of Zarahemla. Since the pursuit has gone from the land of Zarahemla to the valley of Gideon to the land of Minon and the river Sidon runs northward, this would put the valley of Gideon southward of the land of Zarahemla and also higher in altitude than the land of Zarahemla. This would also mean that the river in the valley of Gideon would flow into the river Sidon. This further refines the geography that the valley of Gideon is part of the drainage system of the river Sidon.
ALMA 1:82 [2:25]: And except we make haste, they obtain possession of our city; and our fathers, and our wives, and our children be slain.
Commentary: This verse references the place of Minon. The term 'we' refers to Alma and his army. The phrase 'our city' refers to a city in the land of Minon. This confirms the practice that there is a city in a land. The city would have the same name as the land, thus the city would be the city of Minon.
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 1:94 [2:36]: And they fled before the Nephites, towards the wilderness which was west and north, away beyond the borders of the land;
Commentary: This verse references the places of the Hermounts and Minon. There is wilderness to the northwest of the land of Minon. In Alma 1:95 [2:37], this wilderness is named the Hermounts. The phrase 'beyond the borders of the land' indicates that the wilderness is not within the boundaries of the land of Minon.
ALMA 1:95 [2:37]: And the Nephites did pursue them with their might, and did slay them; yea, they were met on every hand, and slain, and driven, until they were scattered on the west, and on the north, until they had reached the wilderness, which was called Hermounts;
Commentary: This verse references the places of the Hermounts and Minon. The term 'them' refers to the Amlicites. The Hermounts are northwest of the land of Minon.
ALMA 10:87 [15:1]: And behold, there they found all the people who had departed out of the land of Ammonihah, who had been cast out and stoned, because they believed in the words of Alma:
Commentary: This verse references the places of Ammonihah, Minon, and Sidom. The term 'they' refers to Alma and Amulek. They found the people in the land of Sidom that had been cast out of the land of Ammonihah. Those people held opposite beliefs than the people in Minon (which also bordered Ammonihah), so, by Occam's Razor and human nature, the land of Sidom is north of Ammonihah and away from the land of Minon.
Map
