1 AND it came to pass that we again began to establish the kingdom and we again began to possess the land in peace. [ After the war spoken of in Mosiah 9:14-19 ] And I caused that there should be weapons of war made of every kind, [ Zeniff prepares the people for continued war with the Lamanites, and believes that one of the best deterrents is the ability to protect themselves so he has them make weapons of war so that they are available to them when the time comes. ] that thereby I might have weapons for my people against the time the Lamanites should come up again to war against my people.

2 And I set guards round about the land, that the Lamanites might not come upon us again unawares and destroy us; and thus I did guard my people and my flocks, and keep them from falling into the hands of our enemies.

3 And it came to pass that we did inherit the land of our fathers for many years, yea, *for the space of twenty and two years. [ So they have experienced 9 years of peace, as the first conflict occurred in the 13th year of their inheriting the land. cf. 9:14 So if it is 22 years after their inheriting the land. (see Mosiah 9:14) ]

4 And I did cause that the men should till the ground, [ Agrarian society; work with the hands for food and shelter. ] and raise all manner of grain and all manner of fruit of every kind.

5 And I did cause that the women should spin, [ To make clothing, so they must have worn clothing if they were making it. ] and toil, and work, and work all manner of fine linen, yea, and cloth of every kind, that we might clothe our nakedness; and thus we did prosper in the land—thus we did have continual peace in the land for the space of twenty and two years.

6 And it came to pass that king Laman died, and his son began to reign in his stead. And he [king Laman's son] began to stir his people up in rebellion against my [ Zeniff's ] people; [ Why? Because the Nephites had nice gardens and vegetables, nice clothing... it is easier to take it than to make it is the lazy man's motto. ] therefore they began to prepare for war, and to come up to battle against my people.

7 But I had sent my spies [ You would only need spy's if there was distrust - as a result there will be no element of surprise. ] out round about the land of Shemlon, that I might discover their preparations, that I might guard against them, [ How important is it to not be caught by surprise in war? How about life? What can we do in our lives to keep our spies round about protecting our homes, children and selves? ] that they might not come upon my people and destroy them.

8 And it came to pass that they came up upon the north of the land of Shilom, [ It would appear that they thought that it was an easy target and that they had the element of surprise. ] with their numerous hosts, men armed with bows, and with arrows, and with swords, and with cimeters, and with stones, and with slings; and they had their heads shaved that they were naked; and they were girded with a leathern girdle about their loins.

9 And it came to pass that I caused that the women and children of my people should be hid in the wilderness; [ Send the women and children out of harms way. ] and I also caused that all my old men that could bear arms, and also all my young men that were able to bear arms, should gather themselves together to go to battle against the Lamanites; and I did place them in their ranks, every man according to his age.

10 And it came to pass that we did go up to battle against the Lamanites; [ The Laminites would have been expecting to catch them by surprise; and yet they were more than likely caught by surprise as they attack the Laminites on the outskirts of the city. ] and I, even I, in my old age, did go up to battle against the Lamanites. And it came to pass that we did go up in the strength of the Lord to battle. [Zeniff and his people have the Lord on their side as they are trying to keep the commandments and they are not the ones taking and starting the war - they are only trying to defend themselves.]

11 Now, the Lamanites knew nothing concerning the Lord, [ Zeniff begins commenting on the difference between the Lamanites and his people. ] nor the strength of the Lord, therefore they depended upon their own strength. Yet they were a strong people, as to the strength of men.

12 They were a wild, and ferocious, and a blood-thirsty people, believing in the tradition of their fathers, which is this—Believing that they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem because of the iniquities of their fathers, and that they were wronged in the wilderness by their brethren, and they were also wronged while crossing the sea;

13 And again, that they were wronged while in the land of their first inheritance, after they had crossed the sea, and all this because that Nephi was more faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord—therefore he was favored of the Lord, for the Lord heard his prayers and answered them, and he took the lead of their journey in the wilderness.

14 And his brethren were wroth with him because they understood not the dealings of the Lord; they were also wroth with him upon the waters because they hardened their hearts against the Lord.

15 And again, they were wroth with him when they had arrived in the promised land, because they said that he had taken the ruling of the people out of their hands; and they sought to kill him.

16 And again, they were wroth with him because he departed into the wilderness as the Lord had commanded him, and took the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, for they said that he robbed them.

17 And thus they [ The Laminites ] have taught their children that they should hate them, [ He has just taught us the reasons for that hatred - it comes from their fathers Laman and Lemuel: 1) They have a chip on their shoulders vs 12- 13 thinking that they were wronged by the Lord; their father Lehi and the Lord; 2) they did not understand the dealings of the Lord - they were of a mind set that did not allow them to receive revelation and were mad from the beginning that Lehi received it, that Nephis received it... 3) Nephi was placed as their ruler because he was diligent in following the commands of God - he was their younger brother and was not entitled to do that. At least in their minds. 4) They did not have the plates in which to read the commandments of God and to learn from their past. ] and that they should murder them, and that they should rob and plunder them, and do all they could to destroy them; therefore they have an eternal hatred towards the children of Nephi.

18 For this very cause has king Laman, by his cunning, and lying craftiness, and his fair promises, deceived me, [ In part it was Zeniff's fault as well remember he was the one who stated in Mosiah 9:3 that he allowed himself to be a little over-zealous. ] that I have brought this my people up into this land, that they may destroy them; yea, and we have suffered these many years in the land.

19 And now I, Zeniff, after having told all these things unto my people concerning the Lamanites, I did stimulate [ To excite, rouse or animate to action or more vigorous exertion by some pungent motive or by persuasion; as, to stimulate one by the hope of reward, or by the prospect of glory. ] them to go to battle with their might, putting their trust in the Lord; therefore, we did contend with them, face to face.

20 And it came to pass that we did drive them again out of our land; and we slew them with a great slaughter, even so many that we did not number them.

21 And it came to pass that we returned again to our own land, and my people again began to tend their flocks, and to till their ground. [ This comment tell us much of these people. Just coming off a sound victory they could have gone out and taken over other cities; but they did not they just went back to the God fearing ways of planting and growing food. ]

22 And now I, being old, *did confer the kingdom upon one of my sons; [ Noah see Mosiah 11:1 ] therefore, I say no more. [ Rather terse here; Was he just old and tired? Was he a little upset that his son's were not good candidates for the job but had no one else to turn it over to? ] And may the Lord bless my people. [ Was this a hands up expression that I hope the Lord will help them as they will need it; or just a general prayer for the peoples welfare? ] Amen.