Also Building Walls of Stone – Part I

In 72 B.C., after Amalickiah “had obtained the kingdom” of the Lamanites “he began to inspire the heart of the Lamanites against the people of Nephi” (Alma 48:1). Having gained control over the Lamanite army, killed the rightful king, married the Queen, and achieved rule as king over the Land of Nephi and all the Lamanites, Ismaelites and Nephite dissenters, he desired to reign over all the land, and over all the Nephites as well (Alma 48:2).

Now Amalickiah had been a Nephite, a large and strong man, who was part of a wealthy and rebellious group, who were lifted up in their hearts, and unwilling to walk uprightly before God (Alma 45:24). In fact, this group became angry with Helaman and the righteous and were determined to kill them, and wanted Amalickiah to be king over the Nephites (Alma 46:1-5). He was a man of cunning device and a man of many flattering words, and he led away the hearts of many people to do wickedly; yea, and to seek to destroy the church of God, and to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them, which caused Moroni to be angry with Amalickiah and his growing group of dissenters (Alma 46:10-11).
    Now Amalickiah was determined, because of the greatness of the number of his Lamanites, to overpower the Nephites and to bring them into bondage. He appointed chief captains of Zoramites over his army, they being the most acquainted with the strength of the Nephites, and their places of resort, and the weakest parts of their cities; and headed toward the Land of Zarahemla.
    However, while Amalickiah had been obtaining power by fraud and deceit over the Lamanites, Moroni had been preparing the minds of the people and strengthening the armies of the Nephites. He erected small forts, or places of resort; throwing up banks of earth round about to enclose his armies, and also building walls of stone to encircle them about, round about their cities and the borders of their lands; yea, all round about the land. In fact, he placed the greatest number of his men in their weakest fortifications, and strengthened all the land of the Nephites (Alma 48:8-9).
    As Amalickiah moved against the Land of Ammonihah, to the city they had once destroyed and figured once again to find it an easy prey, they were disappointed to find not only had Morolni rebuilt the city, but he had dug up a ridge of earth round about them, which was so high that the Lamanites could not cast their stones and their arrows at them that they might take effect, neither could they come upon them save it was by their place of entrance. The chief captains of the Lamanites were astonished exceedingly, because of the wisdom of the Nephites in preparing their places of security (Alma 49:2-5).
    Now, not only had the Lamanites prepared themselves with breastplates, armor, shields and garments of skins as the Nephites had previously done, but they had great belief in their large numbers to easily overpower the Nephites. But in this they were disappointed.
They were completely astonished at Moroni’s preparation for war.

Moroni erected small forts or places of resort as outposts and warning stations or watchtowers for the safety of the cities round about

While many are familiar with these events well documented in the scriptural record, perhaps they are not as familiar with the meaning behind these events. First of all let’s take a look at Mormon’s words in describing what Moroni accomplished.
1. Moroni: “He erected small forts, or places of resort”
Comment: The 1828 dictionary states of a “fortress”: “Any fortified place; a fort; a castle; a strong hold; a place of defense or security. The English have a strong fortress on the rock of Gibraltar, or that rock is a fortress. A fortification then, is a military construction or building  is a designed for the defense of territories in warfare; and also used to solidify rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from the Latin fortis ("strong") and facere ("to make").
    From very early history to modern times, walls have often been necessary for cities to survive in an ever-changing world of invasion and conquest. Some settlements in the Indus Valley Civilization were the first small cities to be fortified. In ancient Greece, large stone walls had been built in Mycenaean Greece, such as the ancient Mycenae (famous for the huge stone blocks of its “cyclopean” walls). A Greek phrourion was a fortified collection of buildings used as a military garrison, and is the equivalent of the Roman castellum or English fortress.. These constructions mainly served the purpose of a watch tower, to guard certain roads, passes, and lands that might threaten the kingdom. Though smaller than a real fortress, they acted as a border guard rather than a real strong point to watch and maintain the border. In all, there are three classifications of forts; 1) fortress, or permanent fortification; 2) semi-permanent fortification; and 3) temporary or field forts (often  moveable).
    At the same time, certain fortifications do not necessarily bear the name of a “fort” or “fortress,” such as a defensive city wall, outposts, watch towers, or a fortalice (an archaic term for a small fort, or for a fortified house, or an outwork of a fortification). A permanent fort, often referred to as a castle in Europe, is a strong or fortified place occupied by troops and usually surrounded by walls ditches, and other defensive works. Initially, a ditch was dug around the outside of the city wall for the purpose of keeping an enemy from approaching the wall itself, and was often filled with water (moat). These walls often had gates and watchtowers.

Jerusalem in the days of Solomon 900 BC with 19-foot high outer walls

In the days of David and Solomon, 400 years before Lehi left Jerusalem, the city walls were 19 feet high, and about 230 feet long, with a gatehouse and a corner tower that overlooked a substantial section of the adjacent Kidron valley.
    However, a “small fort” is not the same as a fortress, and served entirely different purposes. The term “small fort” or place of resort, also has a specific meaning, especially in antiquity. A small fort, sometimes called a “watch tower” was a tower or building for the purpose of creating an elevated observation point for a lookout. When connected to a small fort, the tower served as a lookout, while the fort housed a small military detachment.

Biblical watchtowers to give warning of approaching danger, also called a watchman’s booth when erected in the midst of a vineyard, but also a place of resort (Proverbs 18:10) in times of danger

In biblical times and Bible language, the watchtower was a symbol of protection from enemies and thieves and rising above them for a sentinel to be placed to watch for enemies, the approach of danger, etc. Two words are used, “bachan,” בַּ֫חַן, meaning “watchtower,” and “mitspeh,” מִצְפֶּה, meaning “lookout.” Another, “tsaphah,” צָפָה, meaning “sentry,” or “watchman,” and “migdal,” מִגְדָּל, meaning a tower. It is a concept that was critically important in ancient Israel, as it was in almost all ancient cities.
    In addition, somewhat unused use of or meaning of “resort” today is a place of refuge, a safe place where one may flee for protection, or in order to get away from people or places that are unsafe.
    Thus, a “small fort” or “refuge” is a military outpost containing a detachment of troops stationed at a distance from the main force or formation, usually at a station in a remote or sparsely populated location, positioned to stand guard against unauthorized intrusions and surprise attacks; and the station occupied by such troops, usually a small military base. Evidently, then, Moroni had been building these small forts or places of resort around the various cities of the nation, especially those that were considered near the Lamanite borders and at risk.  
(See the next post, “Also Building Walls of Stone – Part II,” for more on the building of stone by the Nephites from their experience in the stone city of Jerusalem)