Onidah, called “the place of arms,” was the site in the land of Nephi to which a body of Lamanites fled around 72 B.C. after refusing their king’s order to march against the Nephites. When the king’s proclamation to gather for battle went out, most of the people would not obey, fearing both to displease the king and to lose their lives against the Nephites; the king then gave Amalickiah command of the obedient part of the army and ordered him to compel the dissenters to arms (Alma 47:1-3). The dissenters had seen the army coming and, supposing it had come to destroy them, fled to Onidah, where they appointed a king and leader of their own, resolved that they would not be made to go against the Nephites (Alma 47:5-6).
Amalickiah, who already held command of the Lamanites loyal to the king and meant to dethrone the king himself, went to Onidah to gain the favor of those who would not obey (Alma 47:4-5). From there the dissenters gathered on the top of the nearby mount called Antipas in preparation for battle (Alma 47:7).