Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
Ver. 20. Then Saul fell straightway all along.] Like an ox, totus totus, quantus quantus; Heb., In the fulness of his stature: and this he made haste to do. a Let such as run to witches look for no more comfort in distress: or else to any other like sinister practice. Clement V, Pope, sent to a wizard to know how it fared with a nephew of his, who had been his catamite, now that he was dead. The wizard assured the messenger that he had seen him in hell torments. The Pope was so troubled and terrified hereat, that he never looked up again, but died soon after. b Cicero c made lamentable moan in his misery, crying out, O me nunquam sapientem! &c. O meam cadamitosam et praecipitem senectutem! O turpem exacta dementique aetate canitiem!
For he had eaten no bread.] Haply, saith Martyr, because such as came to inquire of witches were to come fasting; as God will be sought to by fasting and prayer.
a Corruit ut erat erectus et stabat. - Vat.
b Jacob. Rev., in Vit. Pontif.
c Epist. ad Octav.