Alma 8:16-20

Questions

In Melek, Alma taught all the people throughout the land, especially those outside the city in the borders of the wilderness. Here he is commanded to preach "unto the people of the city". Is there a difference here? Is he being commanded specifically to preach just to those within the city, and not in the borders round about? If so, why might that be?

To what phrase do the parenthesis apply and why use the parenthesis at all?
To whom does "thy people" refer? Is it the Nephites as a whole, or the members of the church in particular?
What does it mean that the people were studying to destroy the liberty of the people? What does that studying entail?
In previous teaching, Alma has asked the people if they are going to "set at defiance" or come out in armed opposition to the commandments of God. Is that what the people of Ammonihah are now preparing to do?

Of what significance is it that Alma returned "speedily" to the city after receiving instructions from the angel? Can we draw a lesson from this example?

Why would Alma announce himself as "an humble servant of God"? What does this mean, and why use such language?

Nephite. Why does Amulek bother to state that he is a Nephite? Isn't Ammonihah a Nephite city?

Amulek is a Nephite Apparently, not everyone in Ammonihah is a Nephite, or considers themselves to be a Nephite, and so it is important for Amulek to so announce himself to Alma. This may be further evidence that Ammonihah is predominantly a Mulekite city, named after a prominent Mulekite (see commentary on Alma 8:7). If so, this would shed even more light on why the people were studying to "destroy the liberty of the people" (v.17). If Ammonihah was a predominantly Mulekite city, perhaps they were seeking to break away from the new Nephite-ruled complex chiefdom based out of Zarahemla.