Ammon as a Type of Christ

My favorite scripture growing up was the story of Ammon slaying the king’s enemies at the waters of Sebus. I found it heroic how he cut off the arms of everyone that opposed him. But over time, I have learned to love this scripture story for a different reason. An interesting analogy may be drawn from Ammon’s example in defending the King’s flocks. Let us compare Ammon to the great Shepherd, Jesus Christ, the King’s servants to God’s servants, the Lamanites to the devil and his angels, and the scattered flocks to covenant Israel.

Alma 17

• Verse 24-25: King Lamoni suggests that Ammon take one of his daughters to wife. Ammon refuses, and instead becomes his humble servant.

  • Analogy: In the premortal realm, Jesus Christ, humbly agreed to come to Earth and watch over God’s children; disregarding the suggestion of some to take power in it, Christ humbly gave the honor and glory to his Father.

• Verse 26: After Ammon had been in the service of the King for 3 days, he encounters major resistance as he is going forth with his flocks to water.

  • Analogy: Notwithstanding the symbolic nature of the number 3, this scripture suggests that it was on the 4th day that Ammon contends with the Lamanites. We also know that Christ came to Earth around 4000 years after Adam. In Abraham, we learn that 1 day is equal to 1000 years in the Lord’s time. 4 days = 4000 years. Christ had already been in the service of God for 3000 years; he had ministered to Adam, Abraham, Moses, and others before his Earthly ministry. Yet during the meridian of time, he encounters resistance to his work in a magnitude as of yet unseen.

• Verse 27: As Ammon and his fellow servants are watering the flock, they are scattered in every direction by the enemies of the King.

  • Analogy: Christ and His prophets had been ministering to Covenant Israel for 3000 years before his coming. Unfortunately, during the 1000 years before his coming, (namely in 721 B.C. and 586 B.C.) Christ’s people had become scattered across the Earth. Through the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities, the once united flock had “scattered many ways.”

• Verse 28: The King’s servants lament the scattering of their flocks and despair in their destruction.

  • Analogy: We read in 1 Kings 22:17 that all Israel is scattered like sheep. Many prophets of God have lamented the scattering of Israel. Indeed, an entire book of the Bible is dedicated to Jeremiah’s sorrowing over scattered Israel (Lamentations).

• Verse 29: The servants of the King wept for fear of being slain.

  • Analogy: Servants of God weep for the sins of their people. For example, the 3 Nephites only sorrow “for the sins of the world” (3 Nephi 28:9).

• Verse 29 Ammon desires to show forth his power unto his fellow-servants ¹ in hopes that they might believe on his words.

  • Analogy: Christ performed miracles while among his people, according to their faith, so that he might bless them and demonstrate his power unto them. For, as Nicodemus said, “no man can do... miracles... except God be with him” (John 3:2).

• Verse 31: Ammon encourages his brethren to be of good cheer, for he will stand with them and defend the flocks.

  • Analogy: Christ constantly reminds his people to be of good cheer. To His people in this day, he said, “Wherefore, be of good cheer, do not fear, for I the Lord and with you, and will stand by you” (D&C 68:6; see also John 16:33, Acts 27:22, and D&C 61:36).

• Verse 31: Ammon commands that they go in search of the flocks, and that if they do, they will not perish.

  • Analogy: Christ declared in Doctrine and Covenants section 4 that every missionary that “thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perishes not” (D&C 4:4).

• Verse 32: The servants of the King rush forth with much swiftness and gather the flocks of the King.

  • Analogy: Said the prophet Joseph Smith, “the Standard of Truth has been erected... the truth of God will go forth boldly.” We can see the work accelerating all around us.

• Verse 33: The servants of the King encircle the flocks. Ammon goes to contend with the Lamanites.

  • Analogy: To his covenant people, Christ has promised that he would encircle them “in the arms of his love” (2 Nephi 1:15, D&C 6:20). Christ has also promised that he would “contend with him that contendeth with thee” (Isaiah 49:25).

• Verse 34: The Lamanites were in number not a few.

  • Analogy: We learn from modern revelation that a “third part of the hosts of heaven” opposed God’s plan and followed Satan (D&C 29:36). Satan's followers are many in number.

• Verse 36: Ammon stood forth with mighty power, insomuch that he astonished the Lamanites with the power from his sling.

  • Analogy: Jesus Christ has great power, even “all power... in heaven and in Earth” (Matt. 28:18). But his power is not in slings or stones; His divine power comes from doctrine and priesthood authority. Those scribes and Pharisees who opposed him in Jerusalem “were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority” (Matt. 7: 28-29).

• Verse 37: Ammon withstands the attacks of the Lamanites by cutting off every arm that is lifted against him.

  • Analogy: As previously quoted by the prophet Joseph, “the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand [or arm] can stop the work from progressing.” Christ’s power in doctrine is the sword that will cut off every evil design that is planned against His church.²

• Verse 38: Ammon kills 6 of the Lamanites with the sling, and 1 with the sword. He also smites off the arms of many others.

  • Analogy: Christ and his doctrine will overcome every obstacle that is raised against it. There is also interesting symbolism in the number of people Ammon slays; the number 7 is often used in the scriptures as a way to signify fullness, completeness, and perfection. Christ’s complete redemption and perfection of character is herein signified. There is even a connection in the number of days in which Christ created the Earth (6) and the days he rested (1). Numerous passages of scripture also have a special connection with the number 7, including Matthew 1, the book of Revelations, and the Law of Moses.

• Verse 39 The King’s servants return the flocks to the pastures of the King and then go unto the King, bearing testimony of what had happened.

  • Analogy: Once the gathering of Israel is complete and Christ has contended with Satan and his followers for the last time, God’s children will return home to heaven to be judged. The words of the prophets “will stand as a testimony against [them] at the last day” (Alma 39:8, see also 2 Nephi 25:28, Mosiah 17:10).