Interesting Constructions in Alma 51, Helaman 5

I found this interesting--

Does anyone have any insight, perhaps in Hebrew, as to a structure that uses a phrase three times in very near proximity?:


Alma 50:1
AND now it came to pass that Moroni did not stop making preparations for war, or to defend his people against the Lamanites; for he caused that his armies should commence in the commencement of the twentieth year of the reign of the judges, that they should commence in digging up heaps of earth round about all the cities, throughout all the land which was possessed by the Nephites.

-=-=-=-=-=

Helaman 5:23
And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi were encircled about as if by fire, even insomuch that they durst not lay their hands upon them for fear lest they should be burned. Nevertheless, Nephi and Lehi were not burned; and they were as standing in the midst of fire and were not burned.

Helaman 5:24
And when they saw that they were encircled about with a pillar of fire, and that it burned them not, their hearts did take courage.

How Much for Your God?

Alma 11:22
...Zeezrom said unto him: Behold, here are six onties of silver, and all these will I give thee if thou wilt deny the existence of a Supreme Being.
...
Alma 11:24
Believest thou that there is no God? I say unto you, Nay, thou knowest that there is a God, but thou lovest that lucre more than him.

How much for your God?

Amulek tells Zeezrom, you know there is a God, but you love "THAT filthy lucre" more than God--in other words, you love those six onties of silver you're holding in your hand--which, by the way, you earned dishonestly--more than you love God.

He put a price on God for Zeezrom.

How much would you sell God for? What price tag would you put on him? If that were you instead of Zeezrom, what would you be holding in your hand?

Hypothecially speaking: If the house were on fire, and God and your ___ (car, computer, CD selection, retirment funds, stock investments, awards and plaques, children, spouse) were inside and in trouble, who would you save? Would you save God first, and then whatever else? How long would it take you to decide, and act?

While it might seem ludicrous, we can do that through our choices of worship and priority.

Orem-Provo Solution

Having spent at least a short time in both Orem and Provo, I can't help but think of them each time I read Alma 50, about the cities of Lehi and Morianton, which bordered each other and "warmly contended" over who owned what land (though it's quite possible that there was more). The answer comes in Alma 50:36--

Alma 50:36
And thus were the people of Morianton brought back. And upon their covenanting to keep the peace they were restored to the land of Morianton, and a union took place between them and the people of Lehi; and they were also restored to their lands.

Look at that--years of fighting, and the answer's been staring them in the face since the beginning of the fighting. Wow, the Book of Mormon's amazing. :)