Azazel
Azazel
By
Gary Primo
We all know that a great spiritual being known to us only as Satan (Adversary) or HaSatan (the Adversary) is truly the elohim of this age whom the whole world worships. This is not a proper name but a title. So what is HaSatan’s proper name? And, whatever else can be gleaned concerning this mysterious creature that defied Yahuwah and led mankind astray? Well, we are about to find out.
The most detailed account of the fallen angels comes from the Books of Enoch. In them 20 of the fallen angels are named and elevated to leadership roles with each being over 10 other fallen angels - 200 in all. In other places we are told that 1/3 of the angels rebelled. Certainly 200 cannot equate to 1/3 of the entire angelic population. One place pictures Yahushua returning with 10,000 times 10,000 angels accompanying Him. What happened to the rest of the rebellious host if only 200 were cast down to earth?
The Books of Enoch mentions the names of the twenty leaders only, with one, Samyaza, being the leader. But before we assume that Samyaza is HaSatan, we must read a little more carefully.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samyaza
When the rebel angels first meet upon Mount Hermon to organize their secret society of 200 members, Samyaza, as their recognized chieftain (under Azazel, who had rebelled against God and the heavenly host), initially doubts the initiates' resolve to forswear heaven. This they had planned to achieve through dark combinations and clandestine oaths under penalty of death, thereby binding themselves to that treachery in which they would use their heaven-acquired knowledge to create a counterfeit religion on earth to satisfy their lusts and carnal desires:
And Semjâzâ, who was their leader, said unto them: "I fear ye will not indeed agree to do this deed, and I alone shall have to pay the penalty of a great sin." And they all answered him and said: "Let us all swear an oath, and all bind ourselves by mutual imprecations not to abandon this plan but to do this thing." Then sware they all together and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it. (1 En 6:3-5)
... a star fell from heaven [Azazel], and it arose and ate and pastured amongst those oxen [the righteous Sethites, descendants of Adam's son Seth]. And after this I saw the large and the black oxen [the wicked Cainites, descendants of Adam's son Cain], and behold, all of them changed their pens and their pastures and their heifers [women], and began to moan [breed], one after another. And again I saw in the vision and looked to heaven, and behold, I saw many stars [Shemihazah and the rebellious Watchers], how they came down and were thrown down from heaven to that first star [Azazel, whom they worshipped and who taught them Heaven's secrets], and amongst those heifers and bulls [humankind]; they were with them, pasturing amongst them. And I looked at them [the Watchers] and saw, and behold, all of them let out their private parts like horses and began to mount the cows of the bulls [the 'daughters of men'], and they all became pregnant and bore elephants and camels and asses [the "giants" — creatures, physically unlike either of their parents, at once of great stature and/or pridefully stubborn, repulsive]. And all the oxen [humankind] feared them and were affrighted at them, and [they] began to bite with their teeth and to devour, and to gore with their horns. And they [the Watchers and their giant-sons] began, moreover, to devour those oxen [the righteous and wicked alike]; and behold all the children of the earth began to tremble and quake before them and to flee from them ... (1 En 86:1-6)
Azazel and Samyaza are two separate entities. Samyaza ruled over the 200 but Azazel ruled over all, was the one who rebelled against Yahuwah. So, if HaSatan does have a name, I would suppose it is Azazel. In looking up the meaning of the name, I found several different interpretations.
· Entire Removal, Strength Of Elohim, She-Goat Of Going Away
· Who Elohim strengthens.
· Scapegoat
· Angel of Death
· Elohim of hardening
Of the four, number 3 is the most commonly accepted. However, I see a scapegoat as someone who takes the blame for something they are innocent of. HaSatan is certainly not innocent of anything. All the blame for the universal condition today, lies squarely on the shoulders of this deceiver of mankind.
The following exerts from the Book of Enoch describe the watchers and what they taught mankind that was evil.
https://trueancienthistory.blogspot.com/2013/07/azazel-and-book-of-enoch_3.html
* And Azazel taught men to make swords, and knives, and shields, and breastplates, and made known to them the metals of the earth and the art of working them,
· Thou seest what Azazel hath done, who hath taught all unrighteousness on earth and revealed the eternal secrets which were (preserved) in heaven, which men were striving to learn: And Semjaza, to whom Thou hast given authority to bear rule over his associates. And they have gone to the daughters of men upon the earth, and have slept with the women, and have defiled themselves, and revealed to them all kinds of sins. And the women have borne giants
· And again the Lord said to Raphael: 'Bind Azazel hand and foot, and cast him into the darkness: and make an opening in the desert, which is in Dudael, and cast him therein. And place upon him rough and jagged rocks, and cover him with darkness, and let him abide there for ever, and cover his face that he may not see light.
· The question that many ask is what happened to Azazel? The children of these gods that were left after the battle, the Nefilim, now would gather their dead and bury them. Then soon after, build a memorial for the en-captured Azazel. This was built at Baalbek. The size and immensity no man has seen or duplicated. Below is a stone that was never completed still lays near the site. German archaeologists recently found in February of 2015, after extensive digging, the largest stone ever unearthed, which weighed in excess of 1650 long tons. This stone was found at Baalbek.
The ancient tales surrounding Baalbek is that it was built by giants prior to the flood, which coincides with the Book of Enoch. It's also possible that this site that stands as a memorial, is the site where Azazel is held in captivity in Dudael. In the text above, rocks are placed over his entombment. Could these be the giant stones at Baalbek that seal his exit? Buried deep below this site, and bound is Azazel.
The Book of Daniel mentions the watchers 3 times;
Dan. 4:13 - I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
17 - This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will, and sets up over it the basest of men.
23 - And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;
The angel/watcher who appears before Daniel seems to be a “good” watcher/angel. Were there other good angels appointed as watchers over men who did not rebel? Apparently!
The apocryphal Books of Enoch (2nd–1st centuries BC) refer to both good and bad Watchers, with a primary focus on the rebellious ones.
This begs the question, “How many watchers were there altogether?” Well I am afraid I am going to have to leave that mystery with you. I have searched all over the internet and could not even find a clue. If you have better luck than me, please let me know.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watcher_(angel)
Books of Enoch[edit]
In the Books of Enoch, the first Book of Enoch devotes much of its attention to the fall of the watchers. The Second Book of Enoch addresses the watchers (Gk. egrḗgoroi) who are in fifth heaven where the fall took place. The Third Book of Enoch gives attention to the unfallen watchers.[10]
The use of the term "watchers" is common in the Book of Enoch. The Book of the Watchers (1 Enoch 6–36) occurs in the Aramaic fragments with the phrase irin we-qadishin, "Watchers and Holy Ones", a reference to Aramaic Daniel.[11] The Aramaic irin "watchers" is rendered as "angel" (Greek angelos, Coptic malah) in the Greek and Ethiopian translations, although the usual Aramaic term for angel malakha does not occur in Aramaic Enoch.[12]
Some[who?] have attempted to date this section of 1 Enoch to around the 2nd–1st century BC and they believe this book is based on one interpretation of the Sons of God passage in Genesis 6, according to which angels mated with human females, giving rise to a race of hybrids known as the Nephilim. The term irin is primarily applied to disobedient watchers who numbered a total of 200, and of whom their leaders are named, but equally Aramaic iri ("watcher" singular) is also applied to the obedient archangels who chain them, such as Raphael (1 Enoch 22:6).
7. And these are the names of their leaders: Sêmîazâz, their leader, Arâkîba, Râmêêl, Kôkabîêl, Tâmîêl, Râmîêl, Dânêl, Êzêqêêl, Barâqîjâl, Asâêl, Armârôs, Batârêl, Anânêl, Zaqîêl, Samsâpêêl, Satarêl, Tûrêl, Jômjâêl, Sariêl. 8. These are their chiefs of tens.
· Araqiel (also Arakiel, Araqael, Araciel, Arqael, Sarquael, Arkiel, Arkas) taught humans the signs of the earth. However, in the Sibylline Oracles, Araqiel is referred to not as a fallen angel, or watcher, but as one of the five angels who lead the souls of humans to judgment, the other four being Ramiel, Uriel, Samael, and Azazel.
· Armaros (also Amaros) in Enoch I taught humanity the resolving of enchantments.
· Azazel taught humans to make knives, swords, shields, and how to devise ornaments and cosmetics.
· Gadreel (or Gader'el) taught the art of cosmetics, the use of weapons and killing blows.
· Baraqel (Baraqiel) taught astrology.
· Bezaliel mentioned in Enoch I, left out of most translations because of damaged manuscripts and problematic transmission of the text.
· Chazaqiel (sometimes Ezeqeel or Cambriel) taught humans the signs of the clouds (meteorology).
· Kokabiel (also Kakabel, Kochbiel, Kokbiel, Kabaiel, and Kochab), In the Book of Raziel he is a high-ranking, holy angel. In Enoch I, he is a fallen watcher, resident of the nether realms, and commands 365,000 surrogate spirits to do his bidding. Among other duties, he instructs his fellows in astrology.
· Penemue "taught mankind the art of writing with ink and paper," and taught "the children of men the bitter and the sweet and the secrets of wisdom." (I Enoch 69.8)
· Sariel (also Suriel) taught humankind about the courses of the moon (at one time regarded as forbidden knowledge).
· Samyaza (also Shemyazaz, Shamazya, Semiaza, Shemhazi, Semyaza and Amezyarak) is one of the leaders of the fall from heaven in Vocabulaire de l' Angelologie.
· Shamsiel, once a guardian of Eden as stated in the Zohar, served as one of the two chief aides to the archangel Uriel (the other aide being Hasdiel) when Uriel bore his standard into battle, and is the head of 365 legions of angels and also crowns prayers, accompanying them to the 5th heaven. In Jubilees, he is referred to as one of the Watchers. He is a fallen angel who teaches the signs of the sun.
· Yeqon or Jeqon (Hebrew: יָקוּם, romanized: Yaqum, lit. 'he shall rise') was the ringleader who first tempted the other Watchers into having sexual relations with humans.[13] His accomplices were Asbeel, Gadreel, Penemue, and Kasdaye (or Kasadya), who were all identified as individual "satans".
The account of the Book of Enoch has been associated with the passage in Genesis 6:1-4, which speaks of Sons of God instead of Watchers:
https://www.eyeofthepsychic.com/watchers/
But God’s Eye is everywhere and God makes sure that their colleagues in heaven – the other Watchers – also get to see their crimes.
Since 1979, Fowler has been researching the case of an alleged UFO abductee, Betty Andreasson-Luca, a deeply religious American woman who claims she has been abducted by alien beings. Fowler concluded that Andreasson’s story was legitimate – she had not confabulated this account to create attention or controversy. A series of books was the result, the third of which was titled “The Watchers”. The title is derived from information given by the abductors to Andreasson. They identified themselves as “The Watchers”, guardians of the Earth. They stated they had been present since earliest human history and that they had always lived next to us. Andreasson was given this revelation as they wanted Mankind to know that Man was more than just a body. Andreasson was tasked with giving this knowledge to Mankind; it was the main reason why she had been contacted by them.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watcher_(angel)
Second Book of Enoch[edit]
For the masculine given name, see Grigory.
The Jewish pseudepigraphon Second Book of Enoch (Slavonic Enoch) refers to the Grigori, who are the same as the Watchers of 1 Enoch.[14] The Slavic word Grigori used in the book is a transcription[15] of the Greek word ἐγρήγοροι egrḗgoroi, meaning "wakeful".[16] The Hebrew equivalent is ערים, meaning "waking", "awake".[17]
Chapter 18 presents the Grigori as countless soldiers of human appearance, "their size being greater than that of great giants". They are located in the fifth heaven and identified as "the Grigori, who with their prince Satanail rejected the Lord of light".,[18][19] One version of 2 Enoch adds that their number was 200 myriads (2 million).[20][21][22] Furthermore, some "went down on to earth from the Lord's throne" and there married women and "befouled the earth with their deeds", resulting in confinement underground.[18][23] The number of those who descended to earth is generally put at three,[citation needed] but Andrei A. Orlov, while quoting the text as saying three,[15] remarks in a footnote that some manuscripts put them at 200 or even 200 myriads.[14]
Chapter 29, referring to the second day of creation, before the creation of human beings, says that "one from out the order of angels"[24] or, according to other versions of 2 Enoch, "one of the order of archangels"[25][26] or "one of the ranks of the archangels"[27] "conceived an impossible thought, to place his throne higher than the clouds above the earth, that he might become equal in rank to [the Lord's] power. And [the Lord] threw him out from the height with his angels, and he was flying in the air continuously above the bottomless." Although in this chapter the name "Satanail" is mentioned only in a heading added in one manuscript,[22][28] this chapter too is often understood to refer to Satanail and his angels, the Grigori.[22][27]
Well, we know that the number of fallen angels was 200 (according to Enoch). Could there have really been 200 million watchers altogether? What else do we know? Well, it is reported elsewhere that 1/3 of the angels rebelled. If we divided 200 million by .33, we get 66 million. If we multiply 200 times 3, we get 600. So what is the real answer? Mystery, mystery, mystery.
I firmly believe that HaSatan was once a great archangel – the most perfect of his kind. An ordinary angel, one would imagine, would be subordinate to an archangel in authority. Therefore, one can readily see how some of his staunchest supporters would have followed him into such folly.
It would seem to me, from what I have read so far, that all of the watchers were once watching us from above, but not directly interacting with mankind – only reporting man’s activities back to Yahuwah. It was 1/3 of these watchers (whatever that actual number is) that rebelled, not 1/3 of all the angels.
https://www.compellingtruth.org/one-third-angels.html
A close look at Revelation 12 does clarify some aspects. It is clear one third of the angels are fallen or have become demons. Since the number of angels is "innumerable" (Hebrews 12:22), one third includes a vast number of demons who have rebelled against God. In Mark 5 Jesus met a man possessed by so many demons that they called themselves "Legion." Jesus allowed the demons to enter pigs when they left the man; the herd of about 2,000 pigs rushed off the steep bank and drowned in the sea (Mark 5:9-13). Mary Magdalene was freed from seven spirits (Luke 8:2). Jesus also mentioned another account of seven spirits together at one time (Matthew 12:45; Luke 11:26).
Heb. 12:22 - But you are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living Elohim, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Well, we may not know the exact number of angels but we do know there is a very great number of them; therefore, there is no way that 1/3 would only number 200. It had to have been 1/3 of the angels designated as Watchers who rebelled. This also means there remains 2/3 that are good Watchers still watching over us. At least that’s what sense I get from all of this.
What about the angelic being known as Azazel?
6.2) Azazel in First Enoch as a Nephilim
We have already briefly covered the main passages describing the fall of the Watchers in First Enoch chapters 6 through 8. As we shall see, a careful study of these passages and others will conclude that Azazel was not an angel or a Watcher, but that rather he was the firstborn seed of the Watchers. We shall also see that there are some intriguing hints that his mother was not a daughter of man, but Lilith.
The first clue to Azazel’s identity comes from his sudden prominent appearance only after the Watcher’s had committed their fornications with women. When the Watchers gave their oaths upon Hermon in First Enoch 6, a list of all their major leaders is given. As many scholars have noted, Azazel is pointedly not on the list. However, after the Watchers had sexual relations with women and raised giants upon the earth, Azazel suddenly appears in chapter 8 as a major leader. First Enoch 8:1-2 condemns Azazel for teaching men the art of war and women the ways of harlotry. Because of him there arose much ungodliness. Azazel’s corruption of man apparently greatly exceeded that of every Watcher, even that of Semjaza, who is listed after Azazel. Two entire verses are dedicated to describing Azazel’s dastardly acts. This is in contrast to Semjaza, who has only three words used to describe his feats in corrupting man.
From where did Azazel suddenly appear? He is not even listed as a top twenty leader at the time of Mount Hermon before the fornication with women. However, after his sudden appearance in chapter 8, Azazel is preeminent over all the Watchers throughout the rest of First Enoch. The next example of this comes in First Enoch 9:6-8, where the angels Michael, Uriel, Raphael, and Gabriel witness the bloodshed of man upon the earth, and testify to God. They testify foremost against Azazel, more so than any Watcher. Azazel’s sins are mentioned first, even over Semjaza’s. Perhaps most importantly, the angel’s accusations against Azazel do not include fornication with women. This is the primary accusation against Semjaza and his associates in the next two verses. Thus, Azazel does not appear to have had sexual relations with the daughters of man, something which all Watchers pledged to do by solemn oath upon Mount Hermon. In addition, Azazel is judged separately in verse 6 from Semjaza and his associates, indicating that Azazel is not under the authority of Semjaza, whom is the leader of all Watchers. In verse 7 Semjaza is declared the leader of all the Watchers, and he is lumped with them in the condemnation of defiling themselves with women. Azazel being judged separately in verse 6 is consistent with him not being under the authority of Semjaza, and thus not a Watcher at all.
Enoch 8:1 - And Azâzêl taught men to make swords, and knives, and shields, and breastplates, and made known to them the metals 〈of the earth〉 and the art of working them, and bracelets, and ornaments, and the use of antimony, and the beautifying of the eyelids, and all kinds of costly stones, and all colouring tinctures.
2 - And there arose much godlessness, and they committed fornication, and they were led astray, and became corrupt in all their ways. Semjâzâ taught enchantments, and root-cuttings, Armârôs the resolving of enchantments, Barâqîjâl,
For those, like myself, that did not know the meaning of “antimony”, here it is.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/antimony?s=t
antimony
noun Chemistry.
a brittle, lustrous, white metallic element occurring in nature free or combined, used chiefly in alloys and in compounds in medicine. Symbol: Sb; atomic number: 51; atomic weight: 121.75.
One statement from above that I found quite interesting is, “As we shall see, a careful study of these passages and others will conclude that Azazel was not an angel or a Watcher, but that rather he was the firstborn seed of the Watchers.” What this source is claiming is that Azazel was the product of a union between a Watcher and a human woman; but not just any woman, but Lilith, the other Eve. In other words, she was not a daughter of man, but a creation of Elohim.
However, this theory is not supported by a statement from the first reference on page one.
“When the rebel angels first meet upon Mount Hermon to organize their secret society of 200 members, Samyaza, as their recognized chieftain (under Azazel, who had rebelled against God and the heavenly host), initially doubts the initiates' resolve to forswear heaven.”
It plainly states here the Samyaza was “under” Azazel; and, that it was Azazel who rebelled against Yahuwah and the heavenly host. Therefore, Azazel could hardly have been the product of a union between one of the Watchers and Lilith. He existed long before man was even created. Azazel is HaSatan. He is the head of the rebellious host and that is why he is tired separately and given the harsher sentence.
This report would make Azazel one of the giants produced by the union of angels and women. I do not agree with this at all. I do agree that Azazel was not one of the Watchers, but rather, a great archangel with authority over the Watchers.
(Sometimes I have to present opposing views to make my points more clear.)
Azazel and the Day of Atonement
Now, my memory isn’t the greatest and is especially worse since my by-pas surgery; however, I do remembering reading or listening to someone in the past claiming the Azazel goat represented Yahushua. Perhaps it was while in the WCG. That did not sound right at the time and I suppose I just avoided the subject since then. However, in studying to this topic, the question came up again.
The following are the verses that deal with Azazel/scape goat:
Lev. 16:8 - And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for Yahuwah, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
Lev. 16:10 - But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before Yahuwah, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.
Lev. 16:26 - And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp.
Here the scapegoat is simply called that, but in the Books of Enoch, the goat is referred to as Azazel, which we now know is the real name of HaSatan. The goat that represented Yahuwah was sacrificed on the alter in the usual manor. The Azazel goat symbolically had all of man’s sins placed on him and was sent away in the (spiritual) wilderness to wander for all of eternity. The sins of man were symbolically placed on the being responsible for man’s sin in the first place. Sin is finally and permanently removed from the world. This is what the Day of Atonement/Yom Kippur represents, the absolute and permanent removal of sin and the end of Azazel.
Conclusion
We all know that Azazel/HaSatan is the author of confusion and chaos. He has convinced mankind that not all of Scriptures is to be taken literally. That leaves plenty of room for varied interpretations and understandings of certain scriptures. Basically he allowed man to interpret Yahuwah’s word according to their own desires. Christianity is likely the biggest culprit in this practice.
What we have learned from this study is that Yahuwah appointed a certain number of angels to be Watchers, observe mankind’s actions and report back to Him. However, some 200 of them were taken in by the beauty of the human women and desired them for themselves. This led to the rebellion against Yahuwah. Actually, it was the creation of man in general that led to the satanic rebellion.
Azazel’s main fault was his arrogance. He was created the most perfect of the entire angelic realm. And that fact got to his head and caused him to imagine himself qualified to set his throne above Yahuwah’s. He was self deceived and incurable.
Yet misery loves company and Azazel’s plans were to corrupt mankind and lead them on the same path to destruction that he is on. And, of course, the sheep have blindly followed.
When we follow Yahuwah, we become Yahuwah. In like manner, when we follow Azazel, we become Azazel. These are the only two examples we have before us. Which one we follow is entirely our choice and is the deciding factor for entering the Kingdom of Elohim. Let us not be like the main body of the global population that is following after (and becoming) Azazel. Let us be the ones following after Yahuwah and doing our best to wake up the rest of mankind.
Yahuwah Bless
G.P.