Coriantumr (Last Jaredite King)

In the book of Ether found in the Book of Mormon, King Coriantumr (/ˌkɒriˈæntəmər/)[1] was the last Jaredite along with the prophet Ether. He and his family lived wickedly, rejecting Ether's invitation to change his ways. Coriantumr waged war with many men, including Shiz, in an effort to preserve his kingship. He and Shiz participated in a great last battle, where Coriantumr decapitated his enemy. Only two Jaredites left, himself included, Coriantumr wandered through the land and was discovered by the people of Zarahemla, who were a remnant of the Mulekites.

Coriantumr (King)

Narrative

Coriantumr is one of the last Jaredites, as well as their last king.[2] During his reign, Ether, a prophet acting under the direction of God, prophesies to the people; nobody believes and eventually he is cast out, the destruction prophecy of Coriantumr's family is given,[3] and Ether remains in a cave to record the events.[4][5]

Accordingly, a huge war breaks out among the people, many of whom secretly conspire to kill Coriantumr.[6]: 97  However, Coriantumr, knowing much about battle, wages war with them. Meanwhile, he and his family do not repent. The war takes a bloody turn and the king is wounded. Ether tells him that the Lord will spare him and his household if they repent; otherwise, they will be destroyed and another people will inherit the land; further, Coriantumr will be the last survivor to see them do so.[7][8]

Coriantumr refuses to repent and tries killing Ether, who escapes. Some time after, Shared arrives, defeating the king and taking him captive. However, his sons rescue him and re-obtain the kingdom, though there is still great wickedness and robbery in the land. Afterward, Coriantumr and Shared conjure armies, fighting through the Valley of Gilgal, to the Plains of Heshlon, and back to the Valley of Gilgal, where Shared is slain. During the battle Shared wounds Coriantumr in the thigh; the wound prevents him from going to battle for two years, leaving the people to war unrestrained.[9]

Coriantumr fights with the brother of Shared, whose name is Gilead. Gilead and his army are beaten and chased to the wilderness of Akish, with thousands of people getting murdered along the way. Gilead rushes to the Land of Moron in the night while Coriantumr's army is drunk, killing several people. He sits on Coriantumr's throne for two years while Coriantumr recruits more warriors.[10] After a while Gilead is murdered on his own throne by his high priest. The high priest is then murdered by a man named Lib, who is involved in secret combinations. Coriantumr returns with his army to battle with Lib's troops, where Lib wounds Coriantumr's arm. Lib flees to the coast, where they fight again.[11] Lib flees to the wilderness of Akish then to the plains of Agosh. Coriantumr pursues with all his people and kills Lib; however, Lib's brother, Shiz, takes up the cause, setting fire to cities and killing not only men but also women and children.[12] The stench of the dead bodies is so strong it disturbs the people. Shiz continues his ravaging, swearing to avenge his brother.[13]

Shiz pursues Coriantumr to the coast where they battle for three days. Coriantumr's army kills so many of Shiz's warriors that the people run away, though some join Coriantumr's army as an act of self-preservation.[14]

After many battles and almost two million deaths,[15] Coriantumr longs to end the fighting. He begins to repent and sends an epistle to Shiz asking him to stop the war for the people's sake; he also offers the kingdom to Shiz. Shiz agrees on the condition that Coriantumr turn himself over to be killed.[12] Coriantumr refuses and the armies gather on the Hill Ramah for the final battle.[16] Over time the numbers dwindle until only Ether, Shiz, and Coriantumr are left.[6] They fight until Shiz faints due to blood loss; then Coriantumr cuts his head off.[17] The war over and a two thousand-year-old kingdom annihilated,[18] Coriantumr wanders to eventually be found by the Mulekites;[3]: 143  he shares his story[6]: 98  and lives with them nine months until his death.[19]

Literary Interpretation

Associate professor for English at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, Edward Whitley published an essay discussing poetry about the Book of Mormon. In his analysis of The Master's Other Sheep: An Epic of Ancient America by Charles W. Dunn, he highlights the significance that the Hill Ramah was the same as the Hill Cumorah, which was where the Nephites also destroyed themselves. He explores its role in the destruction of ancient American peoples, namely the Nephites and the Jaredites, and how that is portrayed in literature.[20] Olive Wilkins also uses poetry to explore what the last battles may have been like; in rhyme she matter-of-factly illustrates the death and rage that were prevalent at this time.[21]

See also

References
  1. "Book of Mormon Pronunciation Guide". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  2. Ether 12:1
  3. Gardner, Brant A. (2007). Second Witness: Analytical and Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon: Volume 6: Fourth Nephi--Moroni. Draper, Utah, USA: Greg Kofford Books, Inc. p. 309. ISBN 978-1-58958-046-6.
  4. Ether 13:14
  5. Thomas, John Christopher (2016). A Pentecostal Reads The Book of Mormon: A Literary and Theological Introduction. Cleveland, Tennessee, USA: CPT Press. p. 178. ISBN 9781935931553.
  6. Bingman, Margaret (1978). Encyclopedia of the Book of Mormon. USA: Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ISBN 0-8309-0199-X.
  7. Ether 13:20-21
  8. Largey 2003, p. 252.
  9. Ether 13:22-31
  10. Ether 14:2-7
  11. Ether 14:9-13
  12. Largey 2003, p. 722.
  13. Ether 14:16-24
  14. Ether 14:27
  15. Largey 2003, p. 215.
  16. Sorenson, John L. (1985). An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: Deseret Book Company. pp. 14–15. ISBN 0-87747-608-X.
  17. Largey 2003, p. 216.
  18. Allen, Joseph L.; Allen, Blake J. (2011). Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon (Revised ed.). American Fork, Utah, USA: Covenant Communications, Inc. p. 126. ISBN 978-1-60861-362-5.
  19. Omni 1:19-21
  20. Whitley, Edward (2019). Hickman, Jared; Fenton, Elizabeth (eds.). Americanist Approaches to The Book of Mormon. New York, New York, USA: Oxford University Press. pp. 429–30. ISBN 978-0-19-022192-8.
  21. Wilkins, Olive McFate (1950). From Cumorah's Lonely Hill. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: Deseret News Press. pp. 199–202.

Works cited
  • Largey, Dennis L., ed. (2003). Book of Mormon Reference Companion. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: Deseret Book. ISBN 1-57345-231-9.
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