3 Nephi 7:12

therefore Jacob seeing that their enemies were more numerous than they, he being the king of the band, therefore he commanded his people that they should take their flight into the northernmost part of the land, and there build up unto themselves a kingdom, until they were joined by dissenters, (for he flattered them that there would be many dissenters,) and they become sufficiently strong to contend with the tribes of the people. And they did so;

Jacob saw that their enemies were more in number than they were. He was the king of the group. So he told his people to run away to the far north part of the land. He told them to build a kingdom there. He said they would wait until other people joined them. He promised them that many people would leave their tribes to join. Then they would be strong enough to fight against the tribes of the people. They did what he said.

Jacob saw that his enemies outnumbered his band. As king, he commanded his people to flee north and build themselves a kingdom there. He promised them that many would defect and join them, and then they’d be strong enough to fight the tribes. They did exactly that.