Page:A dictionary of the Book of Mormon.pdf/340

This page has been validated.
Sheum.
330
Shez.

When the Lamanites captured the tower of Sherrizah they fed their female prisoners on the flesh of their husbands and fathers, and tortured them by withholding sufficient water to quench their thirst. The contending forces also carried away all the provisions, leaving the aged and the children to starve. Mormon says, "the sufferings of our women and our children upon all the face of this land, doth exceed anything; yea, tongue cannot tell, neither can it be written."

SHEUM. A kind of grain. This name is singularly like the Hebrew snum (garlic), as found in Numbers, 11:5. Sheum is spoken of as being planted by the Nephites, in connection with wheat, barley and neas in the land of Lehi-Nephi (Mosiah, 9:9).


SHEZ. A king of the Jaredites, the son of Heth. By reason of the great wickedness of the Jaredites in the days of Heth, the Lord permitted a severe famine to come upon them, by which the far greater portion of the people were destroyed. Of the royal family, all perished except Shez, who, when the crops again began to grow, commenced to build up this desolate race. He was a virtuous man, and taught his people righteousness, and the sun of prosperity shone upon them. His peace, however, was marred by the treason of his son Shez, who rebelled against him. This son, however, was slain by a robber, and peace was restored. In the later years of his lengthy reign, Shez built many cities, and the rapidly increasing people spread out in various directions. This moriarch lived to an exceeding old age, was blessed with numerous children, and when he died was succeeded on the throne by his son Riplakish, who was apparently the youngest of his family. (Ether, 10:1—4.)


SHEZ. A Jaredite prince, the eldest son of the king of the same name. He rose in rebellion against his father, but while thus traitorously