1 BEHOLD, it came to pass that I, Omni, [ The son of Jarom. It is believed that he was born in 390 BC. ] being commanded by my father, Jarom, who was a descendant of Jacob, the brother of the prophet Nephi, that I should write somewhat upon these plates, to preserve our genealogy— [ These authors say slightly more than their names - but do it to preserve their genealogy. ]

2 Wherefore, in my days, I would that ye should know that I fought much with the sword to preserve my people, the Nephites, from falling into the hands of their enemies, the Lamanites. But behold, I of myself am a wicked man, [ Does this mean that he was not worthy of being made a high priest as had been done in the past, and was passed from father to son. Or is he just stating that he was or had not been diligent in the duties of the priesthood? sometimes we are harder on ourselves than we should be. Since there is nothing of the preaching and such we can assume that he maybe just did nothing priesthood related. Give from the sound of things he has spent most of his life in trying to take the blood of others he is most likely saying that he has become hard to things of the spirit. This is a good warning for us, that it does not take long to drift away from being righteous if we do not continually work on it. ] and I have not kept the statutes and the commandments of the Lord as I ought to have done. [ A commentary about how the Nephites as a whole have gotten off the track through complacency and as a result of so much conflict with the Lamanites. This was predicted back in 1 Ne.2:24; 2 Ne. 5:25. This continues as four more authors of this book mention only their names, and that they continue to suffer. The Book of Omni is a stark contrast to Jacob, Enos and Jarom all of which are filled with doctrine and preaching. The mention is made that the Nephites are stiff-necked and hard hearted but they seem to break those bands with constant and continual preaching. When the preaching appears to have stopped they regression appears to have happened at a greater pace - a good lesson for life. When we as individuals stop studying the gospel it is not different for us. ]

3 And it came to pass that *two hundred and seventy and six years had passed away, and we had many seasons of peace; and we had many seasons of serious war and bloodshed. Yea, and in fine, *two hundred and eighty and two years had passed away, and I had kept these plates according to the commandments of my fathers; and I conferred them upon my son Amaron. And I make an end.

4 And now I, Amaron, write the things whatsoever I write, which are few, in the book of my father.

5 Behold, it came to pass that *three hundred and twenty years had passed away, and the more wicked part of the Nephites were destroyed.[ This suggests that Amaron can tell the difference between those who are making some attempt to follow God and those who are not trying ata all. So he has some level of spiritual influence in his life. ]

6 For the Lord would not suffer, after he had led them out of the land of Jerusalem and kept and preserved them from falling into the hands of their enemies, yea, he would not suffer that the words should not be verified, which he spake unto our fathers, saying that: Inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall not prosper in the land.[ Amaron remembers the scriptures that have been taught to him at least to some degree. Prosper means to have God's presence with them. ]

7 Wherefore, the Lord did visit them in great judgment; nevertheless, he did spare the righteous that they should not perish, but did deliver them out of the hands of their enemies.

8 And it came to pass that I did deliver the plates unto my brother Chemish.

9 Now I, Chemish, write what few things I write, in the same book with my brother; for behold, I saw the last which he wrote, that he wrote it with his own hand; and he wrote it in the day that he delivered them unto me.[ What does this say about his commitment in writing. It had not had much importance, kind of an after thought. Maybe he got up one morning and said you know I have not been very good at doing what I was asked to do - so he hurry's up and writes a few lines and then passess the responsibility off. ] And after this manner we keep the records, for it is according to the commandments of our fathers. And I make an end.

10 Behold, I, Abinadom, [ Means "my father is a wanderer". ] , am the son of Chemish. Behold, it came to pass that I saw much war and contention between my people, the Nephites, and the Lamanites; and I, with my own sword, have taken the lives of many of the Lamanites in the defence of my brethren.

11 And behold, the record of this people is engraven upon plates which is had by the kings, [ Or the King's are responsible to keep the records. So Abinadom has two son's that we know of Amaleki and another brother who is not named(but goes off with Zeniff verse 30 and then shows up 20 years later as Abinidi) but could most likely be Abinidi(because when Abinidi(who's name is very much like Abinadom(his possible father)) shows up on the scene he is one who has studied and is well versed in the scriptures. So as a son of the King Abinadom he Abinidi would have had access to the brass plates and the small plates of Nephi and had the opportunity to study them). ] according to the generations; and I know of no revelation save that which has been written, neither prophecy; wherefore, that which is sufficient is written. And I make an end.

12 Behold, I am Amaleki, [ Amaleki follows in the tradition of Nephi, Jacob and Enos as opposed to Omni, Amaron, Chemish and Abinadom. ] the son of Abinadom. Behold, I will speak unto you somewhat concerning Mosiah, who was made king over the land of Zarahemla; for behold, he [ Mosiah. ] being warned of the Lord that he should flee out of the land of Nephi, [Why would they need to flee? This suggests that the society had deteriorated so badly as to suggest that the Lord felt the need to remove the righteous. ] and as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord should also depart out of the land with him, into the wilderness— [ This would have not been an easy decision for the Nephite's to have made as they had a pretty nice city. We know this from verse 27 as this is the place to which Zeniff and others attempt to return to. Also from Mosiah 9:8 it did not take the people long upon their return to repair the walls and begin their agricultural pursuits. It is a safe assumption that those who did not flee with Mosiah were annihilated by the hand of the Laminites (see v 10,24) because nothing more is mentioned of them again. ]

13 And it came to pass that he did according as the Lord had commanded him. And they departed out of the land into the wilderness, as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord; [ Or those who believed in prophecy and that Mosiah was a prophet, and would listen to him. ] and they were led by many preachings and prophesyings. And they were admonished [ To be instructed or directed ] 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.

14 And they discovered a people , who were called the people of Zarahemla. Now, there was great rejoicing among the people of Zarahemla; and also Zarahemla did rejoice exceedingly, because the Lord had sent the people of Mosiah with the plates of brass which contained the record of the Jews. [ Or the Law of Moses; was this a spiritual rejoicing because at this point as they had denied the Creator vs 17; or was it that they were most excited about the writing of the Jews from whom they came - their genealogy. some had most likely tried to live the law of Moses - which would have passed only thru teaching by the word of mouth which would have become corrupt to some extent - so they would be happy to have the original law back. ]

15 Behold, it came to pass that Mosiah discovered that the people of Zarahemla came out from Jerusalem at the time that Zedekiah, king of Judah, was carried away captive into Babylon. [ The time when Babylon was sacked. ]

16 And they journeyed in the wilderness, and were brought by the hand of the Lord across the great waters, into the land where Mosiah discovered them; and they had dwelt there from that time forth.

17 And at the time that Mosiah discovered them, they had become exceedingly numerous. Nevertheless, they had had many wars and serious contentions, and had fallen by the sword from time to time; and their language had become corrupted; and they had brought no records with them; [ Underlining the importance of keeping and perserving records. The impact for not having a written record was both loss of language and communication, stabilization of society and spiritual attributes of having the laws of god before them. ] and they denied the being of their Creator; [ They knew not God. Example of how records and documentation of how God works in our live enable generations to remember God. Do we need to document the workings of God in our lives in order to preserve that heritage for our children? What might the consequences be if we don not? ] and Mosiah, nor the people of Mosiah, could understand them.

18 But it came to pass that Mosiah caused that they should be taught in his language. And it came to pass that after they were taught in the language of Mosiah, Zarahemla gave a genealogy of his fathers, according to his memory; and they are written, but not in these plates.

19 And it came to pass that the people of Zarahemla, and of Mosiah, did unite together; and Mosiah was appointed to be their king. [ Mosiah and his people provided them with a working and communicating society once again - who would not want to make him the king. Mosiah and his people brought social order, political order, communication, and religion into one cohesive society. I am sure that to some of the older citizens of Zarahemla this would have been a home coming of sort to the good old days - before all of the war, the break down of language and society. ]

20 And it came to pass in the days of Mosiah, there was a large stone brought unto him with engravings on it; [ Mosiah interprets it and It contains a brief synopsis of the history of the Jaredites including mention of their fathers who left the tower of Babel and the final Jaredite who ended up living with the people at Zarahemla for some time (v. 21-22, cp. Ether 13:19-20)] and he did interpret the engravings by the gift and power of God. [ Most likely referring to a Urim and Thummim. In the Hebrew tradition to interpret something means to make a connection with something in the Torah ( The first 5 Books of Moses in the Old Testament ). This is done to communicate greater teachings, and direct the reader to specific scriptures and teachings. When the word interpreted is used it is a key for us that there are hidden teachings for in the Torah relating to this topic, go look for it. ]

21 And they gave an account of one Coriantumr, and the slain of his people. And Coriantumr was discovered by the people of Zarahemla; and he dwelt with them for the space of nine moons.

22 It also spake a few words concerning his fathers. And his first parents came out from the tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people; and the severity of the Lord fell upon them according to his judgments, which are just; and their bones lay scattered in the land northward.

23 Behold, I, Amaleki, was born in the days of Mosiah; and I have lived to see his death; and Benjamin, his son, reigneth in his stead. [ Benjamin is appointed King upon the death of Mosiah because Amaleki does not have any children(vs 25). ]

24 And behold, I have seen, in the days of king Benjamin, a serious war and much bloodshed between the Nephites and the Lamanites. But behold, the Nephites did obtain much advantage over them; yea, insomuch that king Benjamin did drive them out of the land of Zarahemla. [ The Nephites now had the advantage of greater numbers with the people of Zarahemla at their side, and the people of Zarahemla now had the advantage of the knowledge of war and better weapon's with which to fight as delivered by the Nephites. If the Lamanites continued to expand to the land of Zarahemla then one could conclude that those who stayed behind when the people of Mosiah left - would have been overtaken by the Lamanites. So the warning to flee by Mosiah was fulfilled. v12 ]

25 And it came to pass that I began to be old; [ Amaleki ] and, having no seed, and knowing king Benjamin to be a just man before the Lord, wherefore, I shall deliver up these plates unto him, exhorting all men to come unto God, the Holy One of Israel, and believe in prophesying, and in revelations, and in the ministering of angels, and in the gift of speaking with tongues, and in the gift of interpreting [ In the Hebrew traddition to interpret something means to make a connection with something in the Torah ( The first 5 Books of Moses in the Old Testament ). This is done to communicate greater teachings, and direct the reader to specific scriptures and teachings. When the word interpreted is used it is a key for us that there are hidden teachings for in the Torah relating to this topic, go look for it. ] languages, and in all things which are good; for there is nothing which is good save it comes from the Lord; and that which is evil cometh from the devil.

26 And now, my beloved brethren, I [ Amaleki's closing remarks and admonitions. ] would that [1] ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, [2] and partake of his salvation, and [3] the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and [4] offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, [ Make a committment to serve him will all of your might , mind snd strength ] and [5] continue in fasting and praying, [ Use spititual tools like fasting and prayer to enable you to hold fast to the rod. ] and [6] endure to the end; [ And if you do not do it thru all of your trails until the end then it will not matter - So keep that in mind there is not a getting off pointl there is not a point were you can allow yourself to be offended, not a point were you get to say I have done enough - you have to see it thru until the end. ] and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.

27 And now I would speak somewhat concerning a certain number who went up into the wilderness to return to the land of Nephi; for there was a large number who were desirous to possess the land of their inheritance.

28 Wherefore, they went up into the wilderness. And their leader being a strong and mighty man, and a stiffnecked man, wherefore he caused a contention among them; and they were all slain, save fifty, in the wilderness, and they returned again to the land of Zarahemla.

29 And it came to pass that they also took others to a considerable number, and took their journey again into the wilderness.

30 And I, Amaleki, had a brother, who also went with them; [ Them being the followers of Zeniff(who is the King of the land of Nephi before Noah, and He(Zeniff) is Noah's father. Such that when he(Zeniff) dies Noah comes up and puts in his own priests. And when Abinidi comes before King Noah he says who is Abinidi(means "My father is present with us") that we should listen to him. This is not the same as "Who is Abinidi". So Noah is basically admitting that he clearly knows who Abinidi is, but that Noah is suggesting that Abinidi has no standing in the court of Noah. (Mosiah 11:27) ) who attempted to return and occupy the land of their father’s nativity, which account is detailed in Mosiah 9:22. He does not provide the name of his brother. But we can assume that his brother had read and studied the brass plates that were held by their father Abinadom. The brass plates and the small plates of Nephi(which contain a lot of Isaiah on them) which are kept by Jacob, and then his sons who are the ones who continue that line all the way to here. ] and I have not since known concerning them. And I am about to lie down in my grave; and these plates are full. And I make an end of my speaking.