Rabbinic theology found itself somewhat puzzled in regard to the predicted death of Mashiach. Clearly there are many Scriptures, which speak of the Messiah “being cut off from the living” in some sort of premature death (cf. Isaiah 53:8; Daniel 9:26; Zechariah 12:10). Yet there are even more verses which speak of the Messiah ruling as the King of Israel (cf. Genesis 49:10; Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2). How could these two vastly different descriptions of the Mashiach be reconciled? One interpretation posits
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