Zerahemnah was a Lamanite commander known for his leadership role in the war against the Nephites around 74 B.C. He is recognized for his strategic decision to appoint Zoramites and Amalekites as chief captains over his forces due to their intense hatred for the Nephites and their desire for power and authority (Alma 43:6-8). Zerahemnah’s forces were well-armed with traditional Lamanite weapons, including swords and cimeters. However, unlike the Nephites, they did not possess the same level of protective armor (Alma 43:20).
The pivotal battle between Zerahemnah’s coalition and the Nephite forces under Captain Moroni occurred near the river Sidon. The Nephite’s superior armaments and Moroni’s astute military strategies, contributed to Zerahemnah’s downfall. The Lamanites, realizing they were surrounded and struck with terror, faced the possibility of total defeat (Alma 43:51-53). Moroni, capitalizing on this vulnerability, demanded the surrender of their weapons and a covenant of peace, a stipulation Zerahemnah initially rejected (Alma 44:8-11).
In a moment of intense confrontation, Zerahemnah attempted to assassinate Moroni during a negotiation. This action led to him being disarmed and scalped by one of Moroni’s men, symbolizing the potential fate of his troops should they continue to fight (Alma 44:12-14). Following this incident and further battlefield losses, Zerahemnah consented to the covenants of peace. He and the surviving members of his forces were permitted to retreat into the wilderness, ending this chapter of conflict between the Nephites and Lamanites (Alma 44:19). Zerahemnah’s narrative serves as an example of the futility and eventual humility that often follows belligerence and the refusal to seek peaceful resolutions.