Fate of King Noah

Our reading last night took us to the fate of the wicked king Noah.  As a man called Gideon was pursuing to slay him, he attempted escape by climbing a tower that was erected near the Temple.  Having been able to view a great part of the land from the tower, he saw that the armies of the Lamanites were at the borders of their own land.  King Noah begged for mercy so they can warn the people that the enemy was approaching.

Gideon spared his life and Noah commanded that his people should flee from the Lamanites.  He was not so much concerned for his people.  He was only concerned for his own life.  As they fled, the wives and the children of the Nephites were slowing them down, so King Noah urged the men to leave their wives behind and children.  Some of the men did as he asked but most of his men rather die with their own family.

As the Lamanites came upon them, the Nephites put their fair daughters to plead with the Lamanites to spare their lives.  Having compassion upon the women, the Lamanites did spare the lives of the Nephites and took them back to the land of Nephi and made a bargain with the.  That they would:  "deliver up king Noah into the hands of the Lamanites, and deliver up their property, even one half of all they possessed, one half of their gold, and their silver, and all their precious things, and thus they should pay tribute to the king of the Lamanites from year to year." 

Gideon sent men to search for King Noah and his priests.  Upon their search they came upon some of King Noah's priest.  They had already put King Noah to death by fire.  Just like how Abinadi had predicted.  That he would suffer the same death he himself suffered.  King Noah's son Limhi, that was amongst those who were taken captive, became king of the land.  He was a righteous man.  The Lamanites however set their guards outside the city to keep King Limhi's people captive.