Antipus was a Nephite military commander active around 66 BC, noted for his leadership in the defense of Nephite territories during the war with the Lamanites. Appointed by the chief Nephite captain Moroni to oversee the forces in the region including the city of Judea, Antipus played a crucial role in sustaining Nephite morale and military readiness in the face of persistent Lamanite aggression (Alma 56:9). The forces under his command experienced significant attrition due to fierce combat with the Lamanites, and the arrival of Helaman and his 2,000 stripling Ammonites provided a timely reinforcement that invigorated Antipus’s weary men and boosted their defense efforts (Alma 56:10, 56:16-17).
Under Antipus’s command, a strategic operation was executed to lure the Lamanite forces out of their stronghold city of Antiparah. He and Helaman coordinated a feigned retreat with Helaman’s forces drawing the Lamanites into pursuit, while Antipus and a contingent of his army prepared to attack from behind. This maneuver resulted in a critical engagement where Antipus’s army, though successful in their surprise attack, faced adversity as Antipus himself was slain during the battle. His death caused momentary disarray among his troops (Alma 56:30-33, 56:37, 56:51). However, bolstered by the rejoining of Helaman’s forces, known for their miraculous fighting strength, the Nephites ultimately emerged victorious (Alma 56:56). The brave and strategic leadership of Antipus, leading to the decisive Nephite victory, was noteworthy in the annals of the Nephite-Lamanite conflicts. The surviving portion of Antipus’s men were marked by this event, some even joining with Helaman’s young warriors to continue the fight, while others escorted Lamanite prisoners back to Zarahemla (Alma 56:57).