1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 sn The meaning of “cut off” has been discussed at great length. An entire tractate in the Mishnah is devoted to this subject (tractate Keritot). Being ostracized from the community is involved at the least, but it is not certain whether this refers to the death penalty. 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 sn God went up from him. The text draws attention to God’s dramatic exit and in so doing brings full closure to the scene. 54 55 56 57 58