36 But I had sent my spies out round about the land of Shemlon, that I might discover their preparation, that I might guard against them, that they might not come upon my people and destroy them.
37 And it came to pass that they came up upon the north of the land of Shilom, with their numerous hosts, men armed with bows, and with arrows, and with swords, and with cimeters, and with stones, and with slings;
38 And they had their heads shaved, that they were naked; and they were girded with a leathern girdle about their loins.
39 And it came to pass that I caused that the women and children of my people should be hid in the wilderness;
40 And I also caused that all my old men that could bear arms, and also all my young men that were able to bear arms, should gather themselves together, to go to battle against the Lamanites; and I did place them in their ranks, every man according to his age.
41 And it came to pass that we did go up to battle against the Lamanites.
42 And I, even I, in my old age, did go up to battle against the Lamanites.
43 And it came to pass that we did go up in the strength of the Lord, to battle.
44 Now, the Lamanites knew nothing concerning the Lord, nor the strength of the Lord; therefore they depended upon their own strength.
45 Yet they were a strong people, as to the strength of men; they were a wild, and ferocious, and a bloodthirsty people, believing in the tradition of their fathers, which is this:
46 Believing that they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem, because of the iniquities of their fathers, and that they were wronged in the wilderness by their brethren; and they were also wronged, while crossing the sea.
