Friday, April 7, 2017

parshat acharei mot - Who is Azazel? It's the guy that got one of the two goats on a certain day. What do we know more about that being?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scapegoat


Is it a demon? Evil being?



And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel."1


Footnote [1] 16:8 The meaning of Azazel is uncertain. ESV



Who is this being that God wants to share some goats with the guy?



Answer




Rashi to Vayikra 16:8 says Azazel is not a person:



Azazel: This is a strong and hard mountain, [with] a high cliff, as the Scripture says [in describing Azazel] (verse 22 below),“a precipitous land (אֶרֶץ גְּזֵרָה),” meaning a cut-off land [i.e., a sheer drop]. — [Torath Kohanim 16:28; Yoma 67b]



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