There was a wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla. This wilderness was different, and much larger, than the South Wilderness.
Commentaries (
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OMNI 1:20 [1:12]: For behold, he being warned of the Lord that he should flee out of the land of Nephi, and as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord, should also depart out of the land with him, into the wilderness.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Nephi, the South Wilderness, the wilderness around Nephi, and the wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla. The term 'he' refers to Mosiah. Mosiah and his people traveled northward to Zarahemla, so this places the wilderness around Nephi on the northward of the land of Nephi. There is also the South Wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla. There are also other references to a wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla without specifically naming the South Wilderness. The term 'wilderness' in this verse could refer to any or all of these three wildernesses.
OMNI 1:23 [1:13]: And they were admonished continually by the word of God: and they were led by the power of his arm, through the wilderness, until they came down into the land which is called the land of Zarahemla.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Nephi, the South Wilderness, the wilderness around Nephi, the wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla, and Zarahemla. The term 'they' refers to Mosiah and his people. The phrase 'came down' indicates the land of Zarahemla is lower in elevation than the Wilderness around the land of Nephi. The wilderness in Omni 1:20 [1:12], 1:22 [1:13], and this verse do not differentiate between the wilderness around the land of Nephi, the South Wilderness, nor the wilderness that is between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla.
OMNI 1:48 [1:27]: And now, I would speak somewhat concerning a certain number who went up into the wilderness, to return to the land of Nephi:
Commentary: This verse references the places of Nephi, the wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla, and Zarahemla. The term 'I' refers to Omni. This verse also identifies that there is a wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla. The phrase 'went up to' indicates that the land of Nephi is higher in elevation than the land of Zarahemla. The relationship that the land of Nephi is higher in elevation than the land of Zarahemla also occurs is the following verses; Omni 1:49 [1:27], Mosiah 5:1 [7:1], 5:3 [7:2], 5:5 [7:4], 5:12 [7:9], 5:17 [7:13], 5:60 [8:7], 6:6 [9:3], 12:1 [28:1], 12:9 [28:5], and Alma 14:105 [26:23], and 23:13 [51:11]. For brevity, not all of these verses are included in the commentary since they repeat the same elevation relationship.
OMNI 1:49 [1:27]: For there was a large number who were desirous to possess the land of their inheritance; wherefore, they went up into the wilderness.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Nephi, the wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla, and Zarahemla. The term 'they' refers to a group of people that left the land of Zarahemla. The land of Nephi is referred to as the 'land of their inheritance' since it was the land first settled by Nephi. This is not to be confused with the 'land of their inheritance' that is sometimes referred to by the Lamanites as the Promised Land (I Nephi) that was first settled by Lehi. The phrase 'up into' means the wilderness between the land of Zarahemla and the land of Nephi is higher in altitude than the land of Zarahemla.
MOSIAH 5:5 [7:4]: And now, they knew not the course they should travel in the wilderness, to go up to the land of Lehi-Nephi; therefore, they wandered many days in the wilderness, even forty days did they wander.
Commentary: This verse references the places of the hill north of Shilom, Nephi, Shilom, the wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla, and Zarahemla. The term 'they' refers to Ammon and 15 other men. The phrase 'go up to' indicates the wilderness is higher in altitude from the land of Zarahemla. The hill north of Shilom is 40 days of wandering from the land of Zarahemla.
MOSIAH 5:61 [8:8]: And they were lost in the wilderness, for the space of many days, yet they were diligent, and found not the land of Zarahemla, but returned to this land, having traveled in a land among many waters;
Commentary: This verse references the places of the land of many waters, Nephi, the wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla, and Zarahemla. The term 'they' refers to 43 men that King Limhi sent to find the land of Zarahemla, became lost, and found the land of dry bones. The 'land among many waters' is an alternative description of the land of dry bones (the land of Cumorah). Going from the land of Nephi to the land of Zarahemla, it is possible to get lost in the wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla. It is also possible to go to the land of many waters from the land of Nephi while bypassing the land of Zarahemla. The wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla is the same wilderness as the wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of many waters. The land was not yet known as the land of Cumorah since the Nephites had not populated that land at this time.
MOSIAH 6:6 [9:3]: And yet, I being overzealous to inherit the land of our fathers, collected as many as were desirous to go up to possess the land, and started again on our journey into the wilderness, to go up to the land; but we were smitten with famine and sore afflictions; for we were slow to remember the Lord our God.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Nephi, the wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla, and Zarahemla. The term 'I' refers to Zeniff. The phrase 'go up to' indicates that the land of Nephi is higher in altitude than the land of Zarahemla. There is a wilderness between the land of Zarahemla and the land of Nephi.
MOSIAH 6:7 [9:4]: Nevertheless, after many days' wandering in the wilderness, we pitched our tents in the place where our brethren were slain, which was near to the land of our fathers.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Nephi, the wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla, and Zarahemla. The term 'we' refers to Zeniff. The wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla is the size of many days wandering. The phrase 'near to the land of our fathers' indicates the wilderness extends from the land of Zarahemla to a point that is in proximity to the land of Nephi.
MOSIAH 9:166 [21:25]: Now King Limhi had sent, previous to the coming of Ammon, a small number of men to search for the land of Zarahemla; but they could not find it, and they were lost in the wilderness.
Commentary: This verse references the places of the land of dry bones, Nephi, the wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla, and Zarahemla. This verse indicates that it is not easy to find the land of Zarahemla from the land of Nephi. Since the men became lost trying to find the land of Zarahemla, the wilderness mentioned would be the wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla. The men eventually found a land of dry bones rather than the land of Zarahemla.
MOSIAH 10:16 [22:13]: And after being many days in the wilderness, they arrived in the land of Zarahemla, and joined his people, and became his subjects.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Shilom, the wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla, and Zarahemla. The term 'they' refers to King Limhi and his people. The term 'his people' refers to Mosiah and his people in Zarahemla. The traveling in this verse starts near the land of Shilom. The phrase 'many days' indicates that the land of Zarahemla is not very near to the Land of Shilom.
MOSIAH 12:13 [28:9]: And they took their journey into the wilderness, to go up to preach the word among the Lamanites: and I shall give an account of their proceedings hereafter.
Commentary: This verse references the places of the South Wilderness, the wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla and Zarahemla. The term 'they' refers to the sons of Mosiah who were Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni. They started there journey in the land of Zarahemla. The Lamanites were southward of the South Wilderness in the direction of the land of Nephi. The phrase 'into the wilderness' indicates the land of Zarahemla is outside the wilderness. The phrase 'go up' indicates the journey from Zarahemla to the Lamanites required going up in altitude.
ALMA 11:11 [16:7]: And it came to pass that Zoram and his sons crossed over the river Sidon with their armies, and marched away beyond the borders of Manti, into the south wilderness, which was on the east side of the river Sidon.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Manti, the river Sidon, the South Wilderness, the wilderness around Manti, the wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla, and Zarahemla. Zoram was coming from the city of Zarahemla after talking to Alma. After leaving the city of Zarahemla and crossing the river Sidon, this verse puts his armies on the east side of the river. This places Zarahemla on the westward side of the river Sidon. The south wilderness on the east of the river Sidon is on the opposite side of the river than the land of Manti. This places the land of Manti on the westward side of the river Sidon. This verse indicates that the South Wilderness is near the land of Manti, so references to a wilderness around Manti would be the South Wilderness. The phrase 'into the south wilderness' indicates the South Wilderness extends no further northward than the southern borders of the land of Manti, so the wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla that takes days to travel through is not considered to be the same as the South Wilderness. Since the South Wilderness and the wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla both lie between those two lands and are considered to be different, the South Wilderness has a distinct boundary that distinguishes it from the other wilderness.
ALMA 12:13 [17:8]: And thus they departed into the wilderness, with their numbers which they had selected, to go up to the land of Nephi, to preach the word of God unto the Lamanites.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Nephi, the wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla, and Zarahemla. The term 'they' refers to the sons of Mosiah. The phrase 'into the wilderness' refers to the wilderness between the land of Zarahemla and the land of Nephi. The phrase 'up to' indicates the land of Nephi is higher in altitude than the land of Zarahemla.
ALMA 12:14 [17:9]: And it came to pass that they journeyed many days in the wilderness, and they fasted much, and prayed much, that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and abide with them,
Commentary: This verse references the place of the wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla. The term 'they' refers to the sons of Mosiah. The phrase 'many days in the wilderness' indicates that the wilderness between the land of Zarahemla and the land of Nephi is large, requiring several days of travel.
ALMA 12:21 [17:13]: And it came to pass when they had arrived in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, that they separated themselves, and departed one from another, trusting in the Lord, that they should meet again at the close of their harvest: for they supposed that great was the work which they had undertaken.
Commentary: This verse references the places of the South Wilderness and the wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla. The term 'they' refers to the sons of Mosiah. They were traveling in the wilderness between the land of Zarahemla and the land of Nephi. The phrase 'borders of the land of the Lamanites' describes the South Wilderness. The phrase 'land of the' is a phrase used to indicate a region that includes more than one land.
ALMA 13:68 [22:27]: And it came to pass that the king sent a proclamation throughout all the land, amongst all his people who were in all his land, who were in all the regions round about, which was bordering even to the sea, on the east, and on the west, and which was divided from the land of Zarahemla by a narrow strip of wilderness,
Commentary: This verse references the places of Nephi, the Sea East, the Sea West, the South Wilderness, and the wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla. The term 'king' refers to King Lamoni who was in the land of Nephi at this time. The Sea West and the Sea East bordered the region about the land of Nephi. The phrase 'narrow strip of wilderness' refers to the South Wilderness. This verse places the South Wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla. Since the South Wilderness is a narrow strip, this does not seem to correspond to the many days required to travel through the wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla.
ALMA 15:14 [27:14]: And they gathered together all their people; yea, all the people of the Lord, and did gather together all their flocks and herds, and departed out of the land, and came into the wilderness which divided the land of Nephi from the land of Zarahemla, and came over near the borders of the land.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Nephi, a ridge between Nephi and Zarahemla, a wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla, and Zarahemla. The term 'they' refers to Ammon and his people. The people went from the land of Nephi to the land of Zarahemla. There is a wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla. The phrase 'came over' means there is a ridge between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla.
ALMA 15:16 [27:16]: And it came to pass that as Ammon was going forth into the land, that he and his brethren met Alma, over in the place of which has been spoken; and behold, this was a joyful meeting.
Commentary: This verse references the places of a ridge between Nephi and Zarahemla and the South Wilderness. Ammon and Alma met in the wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla 'in the place of which has been spoken' in Alma 12:1 [17:1]. The phrase 'over in' indicates there is a ridge in the wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla.
ALMA 21:66 [46:31]: And it came to pass that he took his army, and marched out into the wilderness, to cut off the course of Amalickiah in the wilderness.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Nephi, the wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla, and Zarahemla. The term 'he' refers to Moroni. Moroni was in the land of Zarahemla at this time. Amalickiah was in the land of Nephi at this time. The phrase 'in the wilderness' indicates there is a wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla.
ALMA 21:111 [47:29]: Now when the servants of the king saw an army pursuing after them, they were frightened again, and fled into the wilderness, and came over in the land of Zarahemla, and joined the people of Ammon;
Commentary: This verse references the places of Nephi, a ridge between Nephi and Zarahemla, a wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla, and Zarahemla. Again, a wilderness separates the lands of Zarahemla and Nephi. The phrase 'came over' means there is a ridge between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla.
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