jan 19, 21 - Siege Broken
Description:
We are not told how long the siege lasted, but before the year had ended the Robbers were too weak from starvation to stand against the Nephites.
So, Gidgiddoni began to send small groups of Nephites out against the Robbers to harass them. These seem to have been largely small skirmishes, but also several large battles. The total result of them was that thousands, and tens of thousands of the Robbers were being slain.
Eventually the Robbers, weak from hunger and unable to put up any real resistance, attempted to flee back into the wilderness. Zemnariah commanded that they should fall back into the furthermost parts of the land Northward. They wanted to put as much distance between themselves and the Nephites as they could.
It seems that those who were on the southern end of the siege tried to flee to the south, and thus the Robbers were being broken into multiple groups.
However, Gidgiddoni knew of these plans. We are not told how he knew, but as he was a great prophet it is not unlikely that it was told to him by God.
But whatever the source of his information he sent a large army in the night to cut off their retreat. He knew that the Robbers were too weak to put up much resistance and didn't want to allow them to get back into the hiding placing and recuperate.
The Nephite armies, marching through the night, got in the way of the Robbers, so that when the Robbers marched out the next morning they were met by the armies of Gidgiddoni. This was both in the North and the South, and thus all the Robbers were surrounded, as Zarahemla and Bountiful were in their rear.
When they saw this many thousands of the Robbers surrendered and were taken prisoner. However, many thousands also fought and were slain.
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