In Leviticus 16, we see the outline from ืืืื [the LORD] to the priesthood for the Day of Atonement. Throughout the preparation of this day and the cleansing that takes place, we see a peculiar instruction.
โThen he shall take the two goats and set them before ืืืื [the LORD] at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for ืืืื and the other lot for Azazel.โ
โAnd Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for ืืืื and use it as a sin offering, but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before ืืืื to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.โ – {Leviticusโฌ โญ16:7-10}
Who or what is Azazel? The Hebrew is obscure, but many have tried to give their scholarly opinion over the years. The HCSB Study Bible says the following,
โThree different interpretations have been proposed for the meaning azazel, a word that occurs only in chapter 16. The LXX translates it as โthe one carrying away evilโ from which we get the term โscapegoatโ. The second view was developed later by rabbis who suggested that azazel means โa rough and difficult placeโ and that it represented the goats destination. The third view suggests that the word is the name of a demon that inhabited the desert.โ
Is it possible that all three interpretations are correct?
In the non-canonical book of Enoch, which is amongst the most fragments found in the Qumran Discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, we get some more insight into what or better yet, who Azazel is.
You have seen what Aza’zel has done, how he has taught every species of iniquity upon earth, and has disclosed to the world all the secret things which are done in the heavens. – {Enoch 9:5}
Here we see that the fallen angel Azazel taught the human race all sin. Interesting, but Enoch details more.
โAgain ืืืื [the LORD] said to Rapha’el, Bind Aza’zel hand and foot; cast him into darkness; and opening the ๐desert๐ which is in Duda’el, cast him in there. Throw upon him hurled and ๐pointed stones๐, covering him with darkness; There shall he remain forever; cover his face, that he may not see the light. And in the great day of judgment let him be cast into the fire.โ – {10:6-9}
Amazingly, Enoch describes two of the three interpretations of this word in one passage. 1.) A rough and difficult place is where Azazel, the fallen angel, is cast out into, where he is covered with pointed stones. 2.) Azazel, a demonic being due to his fallen state, is sentenced to the desert.
Two of three is close, but what about the first interpretation of carrying away sin, the scapegoat? Enoch continues;
โAll the earth has been corrupted by the effects of the teaching of Aza’zel. To him therefore ascribe all sin.โ – {Enoch 10:12}
All sin is ascribed to Azazel as he is cast out into the desert. Enoch describes exactly what takes place on the Day of Atonement, how prophetic.
If youโve been studying the biblical holy days, youโve come to realize they are all about Jesus, his Hebrew name being ืืืืฉืข. So, how does this fit in with him?
โThen I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.โ – {Revelationโฌ โญ20:1-3โฌ}
โAnd when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.โ – {Revelationโฌ โญ20:7-10โฌ}
Could it be, the reason the goat cast for Azazel is not sacrificed because it is prophetic of what we see in revelation? If nothing is new under the sun, is it possible that on a future atonement, our King and High Priest ืืืืฉืข will ascribe all sin to the ultimate scapegoat as he is sent out into the wilderness, the lake of fire, to be permanently cutoff from the perfect creation?
What do you think? Leave your comments below! ๐๐๐
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