Verse 4 begins with the group not knowing the precise way, and, therefore, wandering forty days. The presence of forty days strongly suggests that the purpose of this sentence is to link it to the wanderings of Israel in the wilderness. This is certainly not a parallel experience, but it is intended to show that it is under Jehovah’s guidance, as the forty years wandering was directly due to Jehovah’s command. Perhaps there is some correlation as well to the rebelliousness of Israel that caused the forty-year journey in the wilderness to the rebelliousness of the former people from Zarahemla who returned to the land of Nephi.
When they arrive, we get the name of Ammon and his three brothers. We do not hear of these brothers again, which seems unusual. Why would Mormon make sure to mention them if they were never to be heard from again? There is no answer to that question. A speculation is that it isn’t the names, but the number four that is important. Sixteen men were chosen, including Ammon and his three brothers from the assumed leadership core.