Alma 49:4 is rather an unusual verse in the Book of Mormon, were we read that the Lamanite warriors “cast their arrows” over the Nephite fortification walls. The use of the verb “cast” is rather unusual, and seems out of place. However, in light of the Ancient Near Eastern background of the text, alongside the Mesoamerican setting of the volume, the verse make perfect sense.
In Mesoamerica, a primary weapon of war in Mesoamerica was the atlatl. This implement consisted of a carved stick about eighteen inches long that was grasped at the user’s right hand as he extended his throwing arm behind him. The end of a relatively long, heavy arrow was placed with its blunt end against a notch at the far end of the atlatl, while two fingers of the user’s hand held the projectile parallel to the throwing stick. When the user cast his arm and the weapon forward, the length of the atlatl served to increase the propelling power of the thrower’s arm. That gave the thrower greater leverage to increase the velocity and range of the missile. If the Nephites and the Lamanites used the atlatl, we could understand why such would pose a problem for attackers if they attempt to “cast” their “arrows” into the stronghold, just as the wording in the account in the verse neatly states.
Furthermore, the expression in the verse could stem from use of the Hebrew root yrh, which means “to throw.” When the word is applied to arrows in biblical usage, the English translation literally reads “to throw” (e.g., 1 Sam 20:20, 36-37).
(The following was based upon John L. Sorenson, “Joseph Smith and Ancient American Civilisation,” in Echoes and Evidences of the Book of Mormon, ed. Donald W. Parry, Daniel C. Peterson, and John W. Welch [Provo: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 2002], 261-306, here, pp. 295-96]).
BTW, to see the atlatl in action, check out this video on youtube (also notice how the term "sword" is used to describe the macana):
In Mesoamerica, a primary weapon of war in Mesoamerica was the atlatl. This implement consisted of a carved stick about eighteen inches long that was grasped at the user’s right hand as he extended his throwing arm behind him. The end of a relatively long, heavy arrow was placed with its blunt end against a notch at the far end of the atlatl, while two fingers of the user’s hand held the projectile parallel to the throwing stick. When the user cast his arm and the weapon forward, the length of the atlatl served to increase the propelling power of the thrower’s arm. That gave the thrower greater leverage to increase the velocity and range of the missile. If the Nephites and the Lamanites used the atlatl, we could understand why such would pose a problem for attackers if they attempt to “cast” their “arrows” into the stronghold, just as the wording in the account in the verse neatly states.
Furthermore, the expression in the verse could stem from use of the Hebrew root yrh, which means “to throw.” When the word is applied to arrows in biblical usage, the English translation literally reads “to throw” (e.g., 1 Sam 20:20, 36-37).
(The following was based upon John L. Sorenson, “Joseph Smith and Ancient American Civilisation,” in Echoes and Evidences of the Book of Mormon, ed. Donald W. Parry, Daniel C. Peterson, and John W. Welch [Provo: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 2002], 261-306, here, pp. 295-96]).
BTW, to see the atlatl in action, check out this video on youtube (also notice how the term "sword" is used to describe the macana):
