The overpowering effect of the Spirit has been attested in the case of Alma2 (Mosiah 27:11–19). In the case of Sherem, however, the smiting does not lead to a change of heart and a new mission but to his death. Sherem was clearly not dead and may even have been conscious but so weak that he was unable to feed himself. This information is an important part of the story, because it shows that Sherem’s death is due to the curse and not to his inability to take nourishment in his smitten condition. He dies because Yahweh willed it, not because of starvation.