Sam is the Arabic form of Hebrew Shem (Nibley, An Approach, 76). Other LDS scholars argues that Sam can justifiably be short for Samuel (Onomasticon), but I lean with Arabic Saam for Shem (rather than the same shortened nickname as in English). Some may question Arabic Saam (for Shem) because the Hebrew form Shem was also used among the Nephites (Moron 6:14); however, for a language to collect different forms of the same name through different forms of the same name through different languages is common. In English we have Karl (German) and Charles (French); John (English) and Sean (Irish) and Juan (Spanish) and Johann (German/Hebrew). So multiple forms of a name in the Nephite idiom should not be thought to unusual, especially in the multilingual context seemingly apparent for the Lehi-Ishmael party.