Mulek (), according to the
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a religious text of the Latter Day Saint movement, which, according to Latter Day Saint theology, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from 600 BC to AD 421 and during an interlude ...
, was the only surviving son of
Zedekiah, the last
King of Judah, after the
Babylonian conquest of
Jerusalem
Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
. The Book of Mormon states that after escaping from Judah, Mulek traveled to the
Americas and established a civilization there.
The word ''Mulekite'', after Mulek, is commonly used to refer to his group. It is one of four groups (the others being the
Nephites
According to the Book of Mormon, the Nephites () are one of four groups (along with the Lamanites, Jaredites, and Mulekites) to have settled in the ancient Americas. The term is used throughout the Book of Mormon to describe the religious, ...
, the
Lamanites, and the
Jaredites) described in the Book of Mormon as having settled in the ancient Americas, although
Mulekites does not appear in the Book of Mormon itself. However, no archaeological evidence distinguishing these groups from other ancient American inhabitants has been documented in the scientific community.
Mulek and his nation
According to the Book of Mormon, when Jerusalem was destroyed by
Babylon, during the reign of Zedekiah, all of the sons of Zedekiah were killed except Mulek. Along with "as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord," Mulek escaped into the wilderness, traveled "across the great waters" to the
Americas, and founded a new nation. The people of Mulek established their capital at
Zarahemla, north of where Lehi and his people landed.
In the text of the Book of Mormon, the Mulekites are referred to as the "people of
Zarahemla."
Encounter with Jaredites
The last surviving Jaredite,
Coriantumr
In the Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a religious text of the Latter Day Saint movement, which, according to Latter Day Saint theology, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from 600 BC to AD 42 ...
, encountered the Mulekites, "and he dwelt with them for the space of nine moons" before he died.
Encounter with Nephites
When the
Nephite
According to the Book of Mormon, the Nephites () are one of four groups (along with the Lamanites, Jaredites, and Mulekites) to have settled in the ancient Americas. The term is used throughout the Book of Mormon to describe the religious, ...
s were commanded to leave their historic homeland of
Lehi-Nephi to flee from the
Lamanites, the exiled remnants discovered the city of
Zarahemla, to their north. The Book of Mormon records that the Mulekites spoke a language that was largely unintelligible to the Nephites. When taught the Nephite language, the Mulekites recounted their descent from Mulek, which was then recorded.
The Mulekites had in their possession a stone that told the story of Coriantumr, a survivor of the Jaredites who had encountered the Mulekites and lived among them until his death. Much of the prior Mulekite history was lost because of their lack of records.
Assimilation with Nephites
The Nephites settled among the Mulekites. The Mulekites eventually adopted the Nephites' language and religion, and the two peoples formed one nation by establishing
Zarahemla as their new capital and naming the Nephite
Mosiah as their king.
Possible origin of the name
Hugh Nibley relates the name to his royal origins,
[ Nibley, Hugh & Hummel, Sharman Bookwalter (ed.) ''Nibley's Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1'' (2013), ASIN: B00GFY0GUO] and states:
:"The word 'malek' is 'king' but the word 'mulek'
ulaikmeans 'dear little king'. The Mulekites were the people who had the little king with them; they were rather proud of that."
Of the Mulekites, he says they are the "Mulekiah, which means 'the king people'".
References
{{Portal bar, Latter-day Saints
Book of Mormon people