Originally part of the same chapter, Mormon begins with events of the first year of the reign of the judges, and now discusses the fifth year. This more frequent marking of the years will continue through the end of 4 Nephi. At the end of our current Alma, Chapter 1, Mormon had set the stage by showing that there was prosperity and peace. The real events now unfold as that peace is broken by “a contention among the people.” Although Nephi had originally indicated that the large plates would discuss the wars and contentions of his people, it is in Mormon’s editing that we more clearly see that wars are with external enemies, and contentions come from within. This incident clearly comes from within.
We have two pieces of information about Amlici. The first is that he is after The Order of Nehor, though instead of the name, we get the description of Nehor the murderer. That defines Amlici as a point of social contention, but the second piece of information is even more divisive. Amlici desires to be king. Only five years after the monarchy was dissolved and the reign of the judges implemented, there is a movement to return to kingship. This will not be the only time that we will see this desire for a return to a monarchy dividing Zarahemla society.