Part IV: Prophecies in the Tanach תנך
That Were Fulfilled
At the First Coming of the Messiah המשיח
The Death of the Messiah המשיח
The Messiah המשיח had to die in order that through death he could destroy the power of death over Israel and the human race and thus he could redeem Israel and establish the kingdom of David forever. Because death ruled by sin, The Messiah המשיח had to destroy sin by becoming the Korban קרבן for all the sins and iniquities of Israel and all the sons of Adam.
The Messiah המשיח kept all 613 commandments of the Torah התורה and he never transgressed at any time any one of the commandments. Because he was a lamb without spot or blemish, he could not be put to death by stoning. Only a person who had willfully broken the commandments of the Torah התורה could be put to death by stoning as it was decreed in the Torah התורה. Also he could not be executed by strangling or burning, because he had not committed any offense for which those methods of execution were used.
The only way the Messiah המשיח could be put to death was by the method of hanging on a tree תולה בעץ or crucifixion. This method was used by the Romans for political prisoners who were judged guilty of rebellion against the emperor, or of inciting insurrection against Roman rule. The Romans had perfected this method of execution so that it was the most painful and agonizing kind of death that had yet been devised by mankind.
The death of the Messiah המשיח is described in great detail by the prophets of Israel. We will follow some of the sequencing of the description that is laid out in Psalm 22. This template is corroborated and expanded upon by other prophets. The ensuing descriptions of events are by the Prophets of Israel.
The beard of the Messiah המשיח was pulled out from his face.
I gave my back to smiters and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I did not hide my face from embarrassments and spitting.
גֵּוִי נָתַתִּי לְמַכִּים וּלְחָיַי לְמֹרְטִים פָּנַי לֹא הִסְתַּרְתִּי מִכְּלִמּוֹת וָרֹק
Isaiah 50:6 ישעיה נ:ו
The face of the Messiah המשיח is marred and bloody.
Behold My servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up, and he shall be very high.
And many were astonished and wondered when they saw you, “How the appearance of his face is marred more than that of any man, and his features are bloodied more than any of the sons of Adam!”
הִנֵּה יַשְׂכִּיל עַבְדִּי יָרוּם וְנִשָּׂא וְגָבַהּ מְאֹד
כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁמְמוּ עָלֶיךָ רַבִּים כֵּן מִשְׁחַת מֵאִישׁ מַרְאֵהוּ וְתֹאֲרוֹ מִבְּנֵי אָדָם
Isaiah 52:13-14 ישעיה נב:יג-יד
The Messiah’s body, especially his back, is striped with wounds from a whip.
I gave my back to smiters…
גֵּוִי נָתַתִּי לְמַכִּים
Isaiah 50:6 ישעיה נ:ו
On my back, the plowmen plowed; they lengthened their furrows.
עַל גַּבִּי חָרְשׁוּ חֹרְשִׁים הֶאֱרִיכוּ לְמַעֲנִיתָם
Psalm 129:3 תהלים קכט:ג
But he was pained because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; the chastisement of our welfare was upon him, and with the wounds of his stripes we were healed.
וְהוּא מְחֹלָל מִפְּשָׁעֵנוּ מְדֻכָּא מֵעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ מוּסַר שְׁלוֹמֵנוּ עָלָיו וּבַחֲבֻרָתוֹ נִרְפָּא לָנוּ
Isaiah 53:5 ישעיה נג:ה
The Messiah המשיח is wounded in his hands and in his feet. This is the process of being hanged on a tree which is called crucifixion.
For dogs have surrounded me; a band of evildoers has encompassed me. They have surrounded my hands and my feet, piercing them so that they look like the pads on the feet of a lion.
כִּי סְבָבוּנִי כְּלָבִים עֲדַת מְרֵעִים
הִקִּיפוּנִי כָּאֲרִי יָדַי וְרַגְלָי
Psalm 22:16 תהלים כב:טז
And one will say to him, “What are these wounds between your hands in your wrists?” And he shall say, “That I was smitten in the house of my friends.”
וְאָמַר אֵלָיו מָה הַמַּכּוֹת הָאֵלֶּה בֵּין יָדֶיךָ וְאָמַר אֲשֶׁר הֻכֵּיתִי בֵּית מְאַהֲבָי
Zechariah 13:6 זכריה יג:ו
And I will pour out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplications. And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn over him as one mourns over an only son and shall be in bitterness, therefore, as one is embittered over a firstborn son.
וְשָׁפַכְתִּי עַל בֵּית דָּוִיד וְעַל יוֹשֵׁב יְרוּשָׁלַםִ רוּחַ חֵן וְתַחֲנוּנִים
וְהִבִּיטוּ אֵלַי אֵת אֲשֶׁר דָּקָרוּ
וְסָפְדוּ עָלָיו כְּמִסְפֵּד עַל הַיָּחִיד וְהָמֵר עָלָיו כְּהָמֵר עַל הַבְּכוֹר
Zechariah 12:10 זכרינ יב:י
The Messiah המשיח experiences the agonies of being hanged on a tree.
I was spilled like water, and all my bones were separated; my heart was like wax, melting within my innards.
My strength became dried out like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to the top of my mouth; and You set me down in the dust of death.
כַּמַּיִם נִשְׁפַּכְתִּי וְהִתְפָּרְדוּ כָּל עַצְמוֹתָי הָיָה לִבִּי כַּדּוֹנָג נָמֵס בְּתוֹךְ מֵעָי
יָבֵשׁ כַּחֶרֶשׂ כֹּחִי וּלְשׁוֹנִי מֻדְבָּק מַלְקוֹחָי וְלַעֲפַר מָוֶת תִּשְׁפְּתֵנִי
Psalm 22:15-16 תהלים כב:טו-טז
The Messiah המשיח is given vinegar to drink to quench his thirst.
They put gall into my food and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
וַיִּתְּנוּ בְּבָרוּתִי רֹאשׁ וְלִצְמָאִי יַשְׁקוּנִי חֹמֶץ
Psalm 69:21 תהלים סט:כא
The Messiah המשיח experiences unfathomable despair and his bones are dried with pain.
For my days have ended in smoke, and as a hearth my bones are dried up.
My heart is beaten and withered like grass, I have forgotten to eat my bread.
From the voice and the sound of the roar of my groanings, my bones have clung to my flesh.
כִּי כָלוּ בְעָשָׁן יָמָי וְעַצְמוֹתַי כְּמוֹקֵד נִחָרוּ
הוּכָּה כָעֵשֶׂב וַיִּבַשׁ לִבִּי כִּי שָׁכַחְתִּי מֵאֲכֹל לַחְמִי
מִקּוֹל אַנְחָתִי דָּבְקָה עַצְמִי לִבְשָׂרִי
Psalm 102:4-6 תהלים קב:ד-ו
For I am afflicted and impoverished, and my heart has died within me like the slain in the battlefield.
As a shadow when it lengthens, I am driven about; I am stirred up like a locust.
My knees stumble in pain from fasting, and my flesh withers on my body, losing its fatty oil.
And I am a reproach, disgusting to them; when they see me; they shake their heads.
כִּי עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן אָנֹכִי וְלִבִּי חָלַל בְּקִרְבִּי
כְּצֵל כִּנְטוֹתוֹ נֶהֱלָכְתִּי נִנְעַרְתִּי כָּאַרְבֶּה
בִּרְכַּי כָּשְׁלוּ מִצּוֹם וּבְשָׂרִי כָּחַשׁ מִשָּׁמֶן
וַאֲנִי הָיִיתִי חֶרְפָּה לָהֶם יִרְאוּנִי יְנִיעוּן רֹאשָׁם
Psalm 109:22-25 תהלים קט:כב-כה
All day long my enemies revile me; those who scorn me swear by me in mockery.
My bread is the ashes that I eat, and my drinks are a bitter mixture of the tears of my weeping.
כָּל הַיּוֹם חֵרְפוּנִי אוֹיְבָי מְהוֹלָלַי בִּי נִשְׁבָּעוּ
כִּי אֵפֶר כַּלֶּחֶם אָכָלְתִּי וְשִׁקֻּוַי בִּבְכִי מָסָכְתִּי
Psalm 102:9-10 תהלים קב:ט-י
The Messiah המשיח has no comforter, and becomes the object of disgust, scorn and mockery.
Humiliation has broken my heart and I have become ill; I hoped for sympathy but there was none, and for comforters but I found none.
חֶרְפָּה שָׁבְרָה לִבִּי וָאָנוּשָׁה וָאֲקַוֶּה לָנוּד וָאַיִן וְלַמְנַחֲמִים וְלֹא מָצָאתִי
Psalm 69:21 תהלים סט:כא
I looked to my right side, but there was no one who would recognize me: I lost any hope of escape. It fled from me. There was no one who cared for my soul, who would seek to help me.
הַבֵּיט יָמִין וּרְאֵה וְאֵין לִי מַכִּיר אָבַד מָנוֹס מִמֶּנִּי אֵין דּוֹרֵשׁ לְנַפְשִׁי
Psalm 142:4 תהלים קמב:ד
Great bulls have surrounded me; the mighty ones of Bashan encompassed me.
They opened their mouth against me [like] a tearing, roaring lion.
סְבָבוּנִי פָּרִים רַבִּים אַבִּירֵי בָשָׁן כִּתְּרוּנִי
פָּצוּ עָלַי פִּיהֶם אַרְיֵה טֹרֵף וְשֹׁאֵג
Psalm 22:13-14 תהלים כב:יג-יד
In my lameness and adversity they rejoiced. They gathered themselves around me. They were together against me. Lame, worthless people gathered about me. Why? I do not know. They tear at me. They will not be silent: They draw blood.
וּבְצַלְעִי שָׂמְחוּ וְנֶאֱסָפוּ נֶאֶסְפוּ עָלַי נֵכִים וְלֹא יָדַעְתִּי קָרְעוּ וְלֹא דָמּוּ
And they opened their mouth wide against me and they said, “Aha! Aha! Our eyes have seen [what we desired].”
וַיַּרְחִיבוּ עָלַי פִּיהֶם אָמְרוּ הֶאָח הֶאָח רָאֲתָה עֵינֵינוּ
Psalm 35:15,21 תהלים לה:טו,כא
May those who seek my soul to destroy it be shamed and embarrassed together; may those who seek to harm me retreat and be humiliated.
May they be bewildered afterwards because of their shame, those who say about me, “Aha! Aha!”
יֵבֹשׁוּ וְיַחְפְּרוּ | יַחַד מְבַקְשֵׁי נַפְשִׁי לִסְפּוֹתָהּ יִסֹּגוּ אָחוֹר וְיִכָּלְמוּ חֲפֵצֵי רָעָתִי
יָשֹׁמּוּ עַל עֵקֶב בָּשְׁתָּם הָאֹמְרִים לִי הֶאָח הֶאָח
Psalm 40:15-16 תהלים מ:טו-טז
Let them return in the path of their shame, those who say, “Aha, aha.”
יָשׁוּבוּ עַל עֵקֶב בָּשְׁתָּם הָאֹמְרִים הֶאָח הֶאָח
Psalm 70:4 תהלים ע:ד
The prophet reveals the very words that would come out of the mouths of the persecutors.
But I am a worm and not a man; a reproach of man, despised by peoples.
All who see me will mock me; they will open their lips, they will shake their head.
They opened their mouth against me [like] a tearing, roaring lion, saying:
“He rolled all his trust on HASHEM that He would deliver him. Let Him rescue him now, seeing He delights in him.”
וְאָנֹכִי תוֹלַעַת וְלֹא אִישׁ חֶרְפַּת אָדָם וּבְזוּי עָם
כָּל רֹאַי יַלְעִגוּ לִי יַפְטִירוּ בְשָׂפָה יָנִיעוּ רֹאשׁ
פָּצוּ עָלַי פִּיהֶם אַרְיֵה טֹרֵף וְשֹׁאֵג
גֹּל אֶל יְהֹוָה יְפַלְּטֵהוּ יַצִּילֵהוּ כִּי חָפֵץ בּוֹ
Psalm 22:7-9,14 תהלים כב:ז-ט,יד
The prophet shows the soldiers casting lots for the garments of the Messiah המשיח.
They part my garments among themselves and cast lots for my raiment.
יְחַלְּקוּ בְגָדַי לָהֶם וְעַל לְבוּשִׁי יַפִּילוּ גוֹרָל
Psalm 22:19 תהלים כב:יט
HASHEM smites the Messiah המשיח with the iniquities of the people. He takes the iniquities off of the people and places them on the Messiah המשיח.
We all went astray like sheep, we have turned each one to his own way, and the Lord smote him with the iniquity of us all.
כֻּלָּנוּ כַּצֹּאן תָּעִינוּ אִישׁ לְדַרְכּוֹ פָּנִינוּ וַיהֹוָה הִפְגִּיעַ בּוֹ אֵת עֲוֹן כֻּלָּנוּ
Indeed, he bore our illnesses, and our pains-he carried them, yet we accounted him as plagued, smitten by God and oppressed.
But he was pained because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; the chastisement of our welfare was upon him, and with his wound we were healed.
אָכֵן חֳלָיֵנוּ הוּא נָשָׂא וּמַכְאֹבֵינוּ סְבָלָם וַאֲנַחְנוּ חֲשַׁבְנֻהוּ נָגוּעַ מֻכֵּה אֱלֹהִים וּמְעֻנֶּה
וְהוּא מְחֹלָל מִפְּשָׁעֵנוּ מְדֻכָּא מֵעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ מוּסַר שְׁלוֹמֵנוּ עָלָיו וּבַחֲבֻרָתוֹ נִרְפָּא לָנוּ
For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
כִּי נִגְזַר מֵאֶרֶץ חַיִּים מִפֶּשַׁע עַמִּי נֶגַע לָמוֹ
And HASHEM was pleased to crush him, He made him sick with bruisings. When You shall make his soul a guilt offering, he shall see children, he shall prolong his days, and the purpose of HASHEM shall prosper in his hand.
וַיהֹוָה חָפֵץ דַּכְּאוֹ הֶחֱלִי אִם תָּשִׂים אָשָׁם נַפְשׁוֹ יִרְאֶה זֶרַע יַאֲרִיךְ יָמִים וְחֵפֶץ יְהֹוָה בְּיָדוֹ יִצְלָח
Isaiah 53:6,4-5,8,10 ישעיה נג:ו,ד-ה,ח,י
The Messiah המשיח will be cut off, but not for himself
יִכָּרֵת מָשִׁיחַ וְאֵין לוֹ
Daniel 9:26 דניאל ט:כו
I have become mute; I will not open my mouth because You have done it.
Remove Your afflicting smiting from me; from the fearful blow of Your hand I am consumed.
נֶאֱלַמְתִּי לֹא אֶפְתַּח פִּי כִּי אַתָּה עָשִׂיתָ
הָסֵר מֵעָלַי נִגְעֶךָ מִתִּגְרַת יָדְךָ אֲנִי כָלִיתִי
Psalm 39:10-11
Because of Your fury and Your anger, for You picked me up and cast me down.
מִפְּנֵי זַעַמְךָ וְקִצְפֶּךָ כִּי נְשָׂאתַנִי וַתַּשְׁלִיכֵנִי
Psalm 102:10 תהלים קב:י
But You abandoned and You rejected; You became wroth with Your Messiah משיח.
You abrogated the covenant of Your servant; You profaned his crown and cast it to the ground.
You breached all his fences; You made his fortifications a ruin.
וְאַתָּה זָנַחְתָּ וַתִּמְאָס הִתְעַבַּרְתָּ עִם מְשִׁיחֶךָ
נֵאַרְתָּה בְּרִית עַבְדֶּךָ חִלַּלְתָּ לָאָרֶץ נִזְרוֹ
פָּרַצְתָּ כָל גְּדֵרֹתָיו שַׂמְתָּ מִבְצָרָיו מְחִתָּה
You have brought an end to his shining purity, and his throne You have cast down to the ground.
You have shortened the days of his youth; You have enwrapped him with shame.
הִשְׁבַּתָּ מִטֳּהָרוֹ וְכִסְאוֹ לָאָרֶץ מִגַּרְתָּה
הִקְצַרְתָּ יְמֵי עֲלוּמָיו הֶעֱטִיתָ עָלָיו בּוּשָׁה סֶלָה
Psalm 89:39-41,45-46 תהלים פט:לט-מא,מה-הו
At this point the Messiah המשיח cries out loud, roaring in loud voice to HASHEM the very words of the prophecy:
My G-d, my G-d, why have You forsaken me?
אֵלִי אֵלִי לָמָה עֲזַבְתָּנִי
Psalm 22:1 תהלים כב:א
The Messiah המשיח enters the bowels of death and the terrors of hell.
My heart shudders within me, and terrors of death have fallen upon me.
Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overcomes me.
לִבִּי יָחִיל בְּקִרְבִּי וְאֵימוֹת מָוֶת נָפְלוּ עָלָי
יִרְאָה וָרַעַד יָבֹא בִי וַתְּכַסֵּנִי פַּלָּצוּת
Psalm 55:5-6 תהלים נה:ה-ו
For an enemy pursued my soul; he crushed my soul to the earth; he has made me dwell in dark places like those who are long dead.
And my spirit enwrapped itself upon me; within me my heart is appalled.
כִּי רָדַף אוֹיֵב נַפְשִׁי דִּכָּא לָאָרֶץ חַיָּתִי הוֹשִׁיבַנִי בְמַחֲשַׁכִּים כְּמֵתֵי עוֹלָם
וַתִּתְעַטֵּף עָלַי רוּחִי בְּתוֹכִי יִשְׁתּוֹמֵם לִבִּי
Psalm 143:3-4 תהלים קמג:ג-ד
For my soul is sated with troubles, and my life has reached the grave.
I was counted with those who descend into the Pit; I was like a man without strength.
I am considered among the dead who are free, as the slain who lie in the grave, whom You no longer remember and who were cut off by Your hand.
You have put me into the lowest pit, into dark places, into depths.
Your wrath lies hard upon me. All the waves of your wrath break upon me. You have afflicted [me] constantly.
כִּי שָׂבְעָה בְרָעוֹת נַפְשִׁי וְחַיַּי לִשְׁאוֹל הִגִּיעוּ
נֶחְשַׁבְתִּי עִם יוֹרְדֵי בוֹר הָיִיתִי כְּגֶבֶר אֵין אֱיָל
בַּמֵּתִים חָפְשִׁי כְּמוֹ חֲלָלִים שֹׁכְבֵי קֶבֶר
אֲשֶׁר לֹא זְכַרְתָּם עוֹד וְהֵמָּה מִיָּדְךָ נִגְזָרוּ
שַׁתַּנִי בְּבוֹר תַּחְתִּיּוֹת בְּמַחֲשַׁכִּים בִּמְצֹלוֹת
עָלַי סָמְכָה חֲמָתֶךָ וְכָל מִשְׁבָּרֶיךָ עִנִּיתָ סֶּלָה
Psalm 88:4-9 תהלים פח:ד-ט
Your fires of wrath have passed over me; Your terrors have cut me off.
They surround me like water all the day; they encompass me together.
עָלַי עָבְרוּ חֲרוֹנֶיךָ בִּעוּתֶיךָ צִמְּתֻתוּנִי
סַבּוּנִי כַמַּיִם כָּל הַיּוֹם הִקִּיפוּ עָלַי יָחַד
Psalm 88:17-18 תהלים פח:יז-יח
The prophets of Israel and the Torah declare that no bone of the Messiah המשיח will be broken.
I can number all my bones. They look and gloatingly stare at me.
אֲסַפֵּר כָּל עַצְמוֹתָי הֵמָּה יַבִּיטוּ יִרְאוּ בִי
Psalm 22:18 תהלים כב:יח
He guards all his bones; not one of them was broken.
שֹׁמֵר כָּל עַצְמוֹתָיו אַחַת מֵהֵנָּה לֹא נִשְׁבָּרָה
Psalm 34:21 תהלים לד:כא
It must be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the meat out of the house to the outside, neither shall you break any of its bones. (the Passover lamb)
בְּבַיִת אֶחָד יֵאָכֵל לֹא תוֹצִיא מִן הַבַּיִת מִן הַבָּשָׂר חוּצָה וְעֶצֶם לֹא תִשְׁבְּרוּ בוֹ
Exodus 12:46 שמות יב:מו
They shall not leave over anything from it until the next morning,
and they shall not break any of its bones.
They shall make it in accordance with all the statutes connected with the Passover sacrifice.
לֹא יַשְׁאִירוּ מִמֶּנּוּ עַד בֹּקֶר
וְעֶצֶם לֹא יִשְׁבְּרוּ בוֹ
כְּכָל חֻקַּת הַפֶּסַח יַעֲשׂוּ אֹתוֹ
Numbers 9:12 במדבר ט:יב
In his knowledge My servant will justify many and make them righteous, for he shall bear their iniquities.
בְּדַעְתּוֹ יַצְדִּיק צַדִּיק עַבְדִּי לָרַבִּים וַעֲוֹנֹתָם הוּא יִסְבֹּל
Isaiah 53:11 ישעיה נג:יא