8  Yea, he had been strengthening the armies of the Nephites, and erecting small ^aforts, or places of resort; throwing up banks of earth round about to enclose his armies, and also building walls of stone to encircle them about, round about their cities and the borders of their lands; yea, all round about the land.

  10  And he also placed armies on the south, in the borders of their possessions, and caused them to erect ^afortifications that they might secure their armies and their people from the hands of their enemies.

  17  And now behold it came to pass, that when the Lamanites had found that Lehi commanded the city they were again disappointed, for they feared Lehi exceedingly; nevertheless their chief captains had ^asworn with an oath to attack the city; therefore, they brought up their armies.

  21  And it came to pass that they were on the east, by the entrance; and they were all asleep. And now Moroni returned to his army, and caused that they should prepare in haste strong cords and ladders, to be let down from the top of the ^awall into the inner part of the wall.