Mulek
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In the Book of Mormon, Mulek (BoM Arabic مولق Mūlaq) is the only surviving son of Zedekiah, the last King of Judah.
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[edit] 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.[1][2]
Along with "as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord," Mulek escaped into the wilderness and traveled "across the great waters" to the Americas, founding a new nation.[3] The Mulekites establish their capital at Zarahemla, north of where Lehi and his people landed.[4]
Even though the word "Mulekite" or "Mulekites" never occurs in the text of the Book of Mormon, the people of this nation are commonly called the Mulekites (BoM Arabic مولقيين Mūlaqiyyīn) by Latter Day Saints. The word "Mulekites" does occur in chapter summaries of the Book of Mormon edition published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[5]
[edit] Encounter with the Jaredites
The last surviving Jaredite, Coriantumr, encounters the Mulekites, "and he dwelt with them for the space of nine moons."[6]
[edit] Encounter with the Nephites
When the Nephites are commanded to leave their historic homeland of Lehi-Nephi to the Lamanites, the exiled remnants discovered the city of Zarahemla to their north. The Book of Mormon records that the Mulekites spoke a language 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 which told the story of Coriantumr, the last survivor of the Jaredites who had encountered the Mulekites and lived among them until his death. Much of the prior Mulekite history was lost due to their lack of records.[7]
[edit] Assimilation among the Nephites
The Nephites settled among the Mulekites, teaching the Mulekites about the Torah and Hebrew language which they had forgotten. The Mulekites eventually adopted the language and religion of the Nephites, and the two people absorbed together, establishing Zarahemla as their new capital, and naming the Nephite Mosiah as their king.[8]
