There was wilderness to the westward of the city of Judea. The southern edge of the wilderness was one day's march northward of the city of Antiparah.
Commentaries (
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ALMA 26:48 [56:39]: Now we were not sufficiently strong to contend with them; yea, I would not suffer that my little sons should fall into their hands; therefore we did continue our march; and we took our march into the wilderness.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Judea and the wilderness around Judea. The term 'we' refers to Helaman and his army. The term 'their' refers to the Lamanite army from the city of Antiparah that was chasing Helaman. The direction of the march was northward of the city of Antiparah. This would put their location westward of the city of Judea, so the wilderness around the city of Judea is westward of the city of Judea. Their location at this time was one day's march northward of the city of Antiparah. The phrase 'into the wilderness' indicates that they went from an area that was not wilderness to an area that was a wilderness.
ALMA 26:49 [56:40]: Now they durst not turn to the right nor to the left, lest they should be surrounded: neither would I turn to the right or to the left, lest they should overtake me, and we could not stand against them, but be slain, and they would make their escape; and thus we did flee all that day into the wilderness, even until it was dark.
Commentary: This verse references the places Antiparah, Judea, and the wilderness around Judea. The term 'they' refers to the Lamanite army. The term 'I' refers to Helaman and his army. This is the second day of hard marching in a straight line northward of the city of Antiparah and the armies have still not encountered the city of Judea or any other Nephite stronghold. The phrase 'into the wilderness' means the wilderness around the city of Judea since the city of Judea is northward of the city of Antiparah and next to the city of Antiparah. The term 'into' means that they left an area that is not a wilderness and entered the wilderness. This line of marching northward from the city of Antiparah is probably not directly to the city of Judea, but to the west of the city since Helaman's army was originally marching west towards the Sea West. The lack of any mention of any Nephite cities in this direction may indicate a lack of cities directly north of the city of Antiparah.
ALMA 26:68 [56:57]: And as we had no place for our prisoners, that we could guard them to keep them from the armies of the Lamanites, therefore we sent them to the land of Zarahemla, and a part of those men who were not slain of Antipus, with them;
Commentary: This verse references the places of Judea, the wilderness around Judea, and Zarahemla. The term 'we' refers to Helaman. Their current location is in the wilderness around the Land of Judea.
ALMA 26:105 [57:28]: And now it came to pass that after we had thus taken care of our wounded men, and had buried our dead, and also the dead of the Lamanites, who were many, behold, we did inquire of Gid concerning the prisoners whom they had started to go down to the land of Zarahemla with.
Commentary: This verse references the places of the battle site north of the city of Antiparah, Cumeni, the wilderness around Judea, and Zarahemla. The phrase 'we' refers to the army of Helaman that was in the city of Cumeni at this time. The prisoners are the ones taken after the battle between the Nephites and Lamanites north of the city of Antiparah. The phrase, 'go down to the land of Zarahemla with,' means the location of the battle site north of the city of Antiparah is higher in elevation than the land of Zarahemla. The battle site is in the wilderness around the land of Judea, so the wilderness is also higher in elevation than the land of Zarahemla.
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