Ether 11
People in this chapter
Ether 11 moves fast. Seven kings pass in twenty-three verses. Some reign in wickedness, some are overthrown, and several live out their whole lives in captivity. Moroni is abridging, and he keeps only what matters for his purpose.
Tap any highlighted phrase to jump to the commentary that unpacks it.
Ether 11:1-8Prophets in the Days of Com
1And there came also in the days of Com many prophets, and prophesied of the destruction of that great people except they should repent, and turn unto the Lord, and forsake their murders and wickedness. 2And it came to pass that the prophets were rejected by the people, and they fled unto Com for protection, for the people sought to destroy them. 3And they prophesied unto Com many things; and he was blessed in all the remainder of his days.
The people wanted to kill the prophets, so the prophets ran to King Com for protection. Com listened to them, and he was blessed for the rest of his life.
4And he lived to a good old age, and begat Shiblom; and Shiblom reigned in his stead. And the brother of Shiblom rebelled against him, and there began to be an exceedingly great war in all the land. 5And it came to pass that the brother of Shiblom caused that all the prophets who prophesied of the destruction of the people should be put to death; 6And there was great calamity in all the land, for they had testified that a great curse should come upon the land, and also upon the people, and that there should be a great destruction among them, such an one as never had been upon the face of the earth, and their bones should become as heaps of earth upon the face of the land except they should repent of their wickedness. 7And they hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord, because of their wicked combinations; wherefore, there began to be wars and contentions in all the land, and also many famines and pestilences, insomuch that there was a great destruction, such an one as never had been known upon the face of the earth; and all this came to pass in the days of Shiblom. 8And the people began to repent of their iniquity; and inasmuch as they did the Lord did have mercy on them.
Com's son Shiblom became king, but Shiblom's brother rebelled and had all the prophets killed.
The prophets had warned of a destruction greater than any before it. Because the people would not listen, wars, famines, and plagues came.
In the middle of the destruction, the people started to repent, and as they did, the Lord had mercy on them.
Ether 11:9-19The Prophets Mourned and Withdrew
9And it came to pass that Shiblom was slain, and Seth was brought into captivity, and did dwell in captivity all his days. 10And it came to pass that Ahah, his son, did obtain the kingdom; and he did reign over the people all his days. And he did do all manner of iniquity in his days, by which he did cause the shedding of much blood; and few were his days. 11And Ethem, being a descendant of Ahah, did obtain the kingdom; and he also did do that which was wicked in his days.
Shiblom was killed and the next king spent his life as a prisoner. Ahah and Ethem ruled in wickedness.
12And it came to pass that in the days of Ethem there came many prophets, and prophesied again unto the people; yea, they did prophesy that the Lord would utterly destroy them from off the face of the earth except they repented of their iniquities. 13And it came to pass that the people hardened their hearts, and would not hearken unto their words; and the prophets mourned and withdrew from among the people.
The Lord sent prophets again. The people hardened their hearts, so the prophets grieved and left them.
14And it came to pass that Ethem did execute judgment in wickedness all his days; and he begat Moron. And it came to pass that Moron did reign in his stead; and Moron did that which was wicked before the Lord. 15And it came to pass that there arose a rebellion among the people, because of that secret combination which was built up to get power and gain; and there arose a mighty man among them in iniquity, and gave battle unto Moron, in which he did overthrow the half of the kingdom; and he did maintain the half of the kingdom for many years. 16And it came to pass that Moron did overthrow him, and did obtain the kingdom again. 17And it came to pass that there arose another mighty man; and he was a descendant of the brother of Jared. 18And it came to pass that he did overthrow Moron and obtain the kingdom; wherefore, Moron dwelt in captivity all the remainder of his days; and he begat Coriantor. 19And it came to pass that Coriantor dwelt in captivity all his days.
A rebellion came because of a secret combination. Moron lost half the kingdom, won it back, then lost it again and lived in captivity, as did his son Coriantor.
Ether 11:20-23Another People to Possess the Land
20And in the days of Coriantor there also came many prophets, and prophesied of great and marvelous things, and cried repentance unto the people, and except they should repent the Lord God would execute judgment against them to their utter destruction; 21And that the Lord God would send or bring forth another people to possess the land, by his power, after the manner by which he brought their fathers. 22And they did reject all the words of the prophets, because of their secret society and wicked abominations.
Prophets came again. They warned that the people would be destroyed, and that the Lord would bring another people to the land the same way He had brought the Jaredites.
23And it came to pass that Coriantor begat Ether, and he died, having dwelt in captivity all his days.
Coriantor, who lived his whole life as a captive, had a son named Ether. Ether would become the last prophet of the Jaredites.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- ProphetScriptures on what prophets are sent to do and how people have received them.
- Secret CombinationsBackground for the wicked combinations and secret society that drove the people to reject the prophets (vv. 7, 15, 22).
- JareditesA short overview of the Jaredite people, from the tower to their destruction.
- EtherThe prophet born at the end of this chapter, and the book named for him.
Where this echoes in Scripture
Prophets in the Days of Com
- Ether 2:12If they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ.Who the God of this land is.
- 2 Chronicles 36:15-16Because he had compassion on his people... But they mocked the messengers of God... until... there was no remedy.
- Matthew 23:37Thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together.
- Ether 7:23-26He did execute a law throughout all the land, which gave power unto the prophets that they should go whithersoever they would.King Shule also protected the prophets.
- Mosiah 8:8Having discovered a land which was covered with bones of men, and of beasts.What Limhi's search party found.
The Prophets Mourned and Withdrew
- Helaman 13:8Except they repent I will take away my word from them, and I will withdraw my Spirit from them.
- Ether 8:22-23Whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret combinations, to get power and gain... they shall be destroyed.
- Amos 8:11I will send a famine in the land... of hearing the words of the LORD.
- D&C 1:14They who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants... shall be cut off from among the people.
Another People to Possess the Land
- Ether 2:8-10Whoso should possess this land of promise... should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be swept off.
- Omni 1:15-16The people of Zarahemla came out from Jerusalem at the time that Zedekiah, king of Judah, was carried away captive into Babylon.Another people brought to the land.
- Ether 1:6He that wrote this record was Ether, and he was a descendant of Coriantor.The genealogy at the start of the book.
- Ether 13:20-21He should only live to see the fulfilling of the prophecies which had been spoken concerning another people receiving the land.The same prophecy, given to Coriantumr.