Comments on: “Smote off his head” may not mean decapitation.

By: Zen

Zen — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:06:35 +0000

I think it is instructive to realize that the sword in question, would likely have been obsidian blades held together, even if my imagination and Arnold Frieburg insist on metal European swords.

In which case, it is less a matter of strength (but still significant) and more a matter of skill and aiming. Obsidian can be fantastically sharp.

By: Greg

Greg — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:47:23 +0000

so what does that say about Ammon “smote off their arms?” in Alma 17? I thought that made sense, because it requires incredible strength I would imagine to literally cut off an arm with a sword. But then it says the servants carried the arms to the king…maybe it means arms as in armaments as in their clubs or clothing? interesting…

By: Adam G.

Adam G. — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:28:13 +0000

Intelligent analysis, thanks.

I agree that the Book of Mormon is highly condensed and so we should expect that some events will be described in a shorthand. But I would point out that this would be true even if the Book of Mormon wasn’t condensed. All historical writing condenses real events, and until recently, there was no such thing as blow-by-blow action adventure writing.

One other point about Laban and blood–most people don’t know this if they don’t slaughter animals, but massive wounds that kill you quickly produce very little blood, because your heart stops pumping.

By: Vader

Vader — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:15:09 +0000

In the case of Shiz, I’ve read an article (can’t remember where) that pointed out that Coriantumr was himself near collapse from exhaustion, and it would not be surprising if he botched the decapitation. If Shiz was decerebrated without destruction of the brain stem, as might happen if the blow was too high and only took off the top of his head, then he would have experienced a bulbospinal reflex that might well have caused him to rise up on his hands in the described manner.

Also interesting is the literary point of sharing this grusome detail, which is to show that Shiz was so obstinate he would not stop his pointless struggle even in death.