who the hell is Azazel?
Posted by Eli Dahan on June 30, 2009 under Bible, Biblical Hebrew, Jewish Folklore | 
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Who was Azazel?
According to the scriptures, Azazel was the evil spirit in the wilderness to whom a scapegoat was sent on the Day of Atonement. The ceremony commenced when the high priest cast lots over two goats: one was designated to the Lord and offered as a sin offering, while the other was for Azazel and outcast in the desert as part of Yom Kippur
The high priest symbolically placed the iniquities and transgressions on the head of this goat which was banished into the wilderness, thereby removing the sins to a distant desolate place. Leviticus 16:8-10
“וְנָתַן אַהֲרֹן עַל-שְׁנֵי הַשְּׂעִירִם, גֹּרָלוֹת–גּוֹרָל אֶחָד לַיהוָה, וְגוֹרָל אֶחָד לַעֲזָאזֵל. וְהִקְרִיב אַהֲרֹן אֶת-הַשָּׂעִיר, אֲשֶׁר עָלָה עָלָיו הַגּוֹרָל לַיהוָה; וְעָשָׂהוּ, חַטָּאת. וְהַשָּׂעִיר, אֲשֶׁר עָלָה עָלָיו הַגּוֹרָל לַעֲזָאזֵל, יָעֳמַד-חַי לִפְנֵי יְהוָה, לְכַפֵּר עָלָיו–לְשַׁלַּח אֹתוֹ לַעֲזָאזֵל, הַמִּדְבָּרָה.”
“And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats: one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for Azazel . And Aaron shall present the goat upon which the lot fell for the LORD, and offer him for a sin-offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell for Azazel, shall be set alive before the LORD, to make atonement over him, to send him away for Azazel into the wilderness.”
Also in Leviticus 16:26:
“וְהַמְשַׁלֵּחַ אֶת-הַשָּׂעִיר, לַעֲזָאזֵל–יְכַבֵּס בְּגָדָיו, וְרָחַץ אֶת-בְּשָׂרוֹ בַּמָּיִם; וְאַחֲרֵי-כֵן, יָבוֹא אֶל-הַמַּחֲנֶה.”
“And he that letteth go the goat for Azazel shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he may come into the camp.”
What does “Azazel” meanas?
Azazel is an enigmatic name from the Hebrew Scriptures and Apocrypha The name Azazel is a combination of the words Azaz (“rugged”) and El (“God”).
Jewish rabbis, interpreting “Azazel” as Azaz and el, refer it to the rugged and rough mountain cliff from which the scapegoat was cast down on Yom Kippur when the Jewish Temples in Jerusalem stood. A few modern commentators have suggested that Azazel was the name of a desert demon.
In the kabbalistic and midrashic literature, Azazel is considered to be a composite name for two fallen angels, Uza and Azael, who had come down to earth at the time of Tubal Cain and had become corrupted in their ways.
In Modern Hebrew slang “go to Azazel” means “go to hell.I wish you all to go to heaven!!!
main phrases of the post + transcription + translation
|
Hebrew |
Transcription |
Translation |
|
עֲזָאזֵל |
Ăzā’zēl ‘ |
Azazel |
|
יוֹם כִּפּוּר |
Yôm kippûr |
The day of atonement |
|
כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל |
Kohēn gādôl |
High priest |
|
עֵז |
ēz‘ |
Goat |
|
לַעֲזָאזֵל |
Ăzā’zēl‘l |
Damn! , Hell! |
