Social: Alma gives us a short glimpse into the nature of the political sophistication of Zarahemla at this time period. As we examine more of this discourse to the people of Gideon we will understand that Alma is generally pleased with them, and that they are generally faithful. In spite of his favor towards them, he has not been able to visit them because his duties as chief judge have so completely occupied his time that he was unable to leave Zarahemla. Of course we must remember that the chief judge was a political and not a legal position, so we are not talking of a number of legal cases, but rather of the complexities of governing. By this time period, Zarahemla is large enough that the affairs of government occupied Alma full time. It is quite doubtful that these tasks also included tilling the soil for his own sustenance.
We must therefore understand that the continued Nephite pressure for an egalitarian society was not one where the concept of working with one’s own hands necessarily applied to every single person in the society. It was rather a particular ideal, an ideal that Alma would have supported even if he could not say that he supported himself with the work of his own hands.
Textual: The introductory statement at the top of the chapter was included in the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon. This synoptic announcement of the inclusion of a sermon will continue through Mormon’s editing of Alma’s journeys. This is even further indication that it is the sermons that are of the greatest interest to Mormon.