“And Aaron shall give lots over the two he-goats, one lot for Jehovah, and one lot for a complete removal.”
(Lev 16:8, LITV)
In the last teaching we saw that in the original language the proper name Azazel means “the goat who is sent away”. Enforcing this interpretation of the name entails a demonic agenda, which is even reflected in certain Biblical translations.
When the proper name Azazel is defined as a person, it means, strictly speaking, that it is not only God who is receiving the sacrifice, but Azazel as well. And in this light the Contemporary English Version translates it as follows – “where I will show you which goat will be sacrificed to me and which one will be sent into the desert to the demon Azazel”! The Message-translation casts it in an even more dubious light, through what they add by way of explanation – “The goat on which the lot for Azazel falls will be sent out into the wilderness to Azazel to make atonement.” There should thus, in this light, be atonement made to a demon.
The gospel is influenced by popular culture to a great extent. Brian Doerksen’s catch phrase “culture’s shifting sands” accurately defining something we are not always very aware of. Milton’s Paradise Lost depicted Azazel as the person who was the first gate keeper of purgatory (again, a Roman Catholic deception) which was most possibly creatively adapted from the apocryphal books of 1 Enoch and The Apocalypse of Abraham. In 1 Enoch 8:1 it is explicitly stated – “The whole earth has been corrupted through the works that were taught by Azazel: to him ascribe all sin.” Thus Azazel is equated with Satan! This myth is solidified in texts by authors as varied as Isaac Asimov’s science fiction and Neil Gaiman’s graphic novels, in computer games (Warhammer) and television shows (The X-files, Supernatural and Rex); even a death metal band from Nieu Zealand carries the name Dawn of Azazel .
Azazel is however NOT a desert demon, as explained by the Biblical Encyclopedia and even the Living Bible. Satan receives no atonement. The symbolic act (Heb 9:23) which accompanies the sacrificial goat and the scapegoat which is sent away are both fulfilled in Jesus. Therefore the NIRV offers a more accurate prototypical translation – Azazel is “the goat that carries the people’s sins away”; or the NC– translation that has the following to say about the two goats – “one will be for the Lord and the other for the goat that removes sin”.
Jesus’ sacrifice of blood does not only purify the sinner of his sins (1 John 1:7), but it also removes the sin, transgressions and inequities (Ps 103:12; Heb 10:2). Jesus is the NT pendant of the OT Azazel – “the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6). In Him we truly have “a complete removal”, as the Scripture quoted earlier states. He is, in the words of Kelly Varner “the vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice”. He alone is worthy, He “is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Rev 5:12).
- Sela: Decide for yourself what you consider to be the role of the apocryphal books.
- Read: Num 9; Ruth 4; Ezec 10
- Memorize: Num 9:5
- For a deeper understanding: Read http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?letter= A&artid= 2203
