Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Nataraja · 10-16-2002, 07:50 PM

I understand that Azazel means something like "goat of departure" in ancient hebrew, and I understand that the term, "scapegoat," seems to have come from this. I don't know as much about it as I would like, though. Does anyone have some conventional or non-conventional information about the Azazel myth?

Toto · 10-16-2002, 11:05 PM

The sins of the nation were supposed to be put onto the scapegoat, and the animal run out of town, thus purifying the town of sin. There are other similar Jewish rituals using other animals that I have heard of, that involve transfering your sins to something and then getting rid of it.

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0965504786/internetinfidelsA" target="_blank">The Secret Origins of the Bible</a> by Tim Callahan thinks that Azazel can also be translated as "Goat God", and that the scapegoat practice is the remnant of an original sacrifice to a goat god.

What is your interest in this myth?

[ October 17, 2002: Message edited by: Toto ]</p>

Bluenose · 10-17-2002, 04:39 AM

Does anyone have Asimov's Giude to the Bible handy? He should have something on Azazel because that is the name of his tiny demon in his Azazel satiric stories.

In Young's Analytical Concordance to the KJV we see at scape goat: a goat for going away [def. of the Hebrew word azazel] and 4 ref to Lev. chap 16.

Toto · 10-17-2002, 08:05 AM

Asimov says that Azazel was probably a desert god originally. Later myth turned him into a fallen angel.

Marduk · 10-17-2002, 10:58 AM

Check the Book of Enoch for more fallen Angel stuff.

10-16-2002, 07:50 PM	#1
Nataraja Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: NC Posts: 433	Anyone know much about the Azazel myth? I understand that Azazel means something like "goat of departure" in ancient hebrew, and I understand that the term, "scapegoat," seems to have come from this. I don't know as much about it as I would like, though. Does anyone have some conventional or non-conventional information about the Azazel myth?

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10-16-2002, 11:05 PM	#2
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	The sins of the nation were supposed to be put onto the scapegoat, and the animal run out of town, thus purifying the town of sin. There are other similar Jewish rituals using other animals that I have heard of, that involve transfering your sins to something and then getting rid of it. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0965504786/internetinfidelsA" target="_blank">The Secret Origins of the Bible</a> by Tim Callahan thinks that Azazel can also be translated as "Goat God", and that the scapegoat practice is the remnant of an original sacrifice to a goat god. What is your interest in this myth? [ October 17, 2002: Message edited by: Toto ]</p>

10-17-2002, 04:39 AM	#3
Bluenose Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: small cold water flat Posts: 471	Does anyone have Asimov's Giude to the Bible handy? He should have something on Azazel because that is the name of his tiny demon in his Azazel satiric stories. In Young's Analytical Concordance to the KJV we see at scape goat: a goat for going away [def. of the Hebrew word azazel] and 4 ref to Lev. chap 16.

10-17-2002, 08:05 AM	#4
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	Asimov says that Azazel was probably a desert god originally. Later myth turned him into a fallen angel.

10-17-2002, 10:58 AM	#5
Marduk Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: the 10th planet Posts: 5,065	Check the Book of Enoch for more fallen Angel stuff.

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