Lexical Summary Atsel: Sluggard, Lazy person Original Word: אָצֵל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Azal, Azel From 'atsal; noble; Atsel, the name of an Israelite, and of a place in Palestine -- Azal, Azel. see HEBREW 'atsal Brown-Driver-Briggs II. אֵ֫צֶל in proper name [masculine] בֵּיתהָֿאֵ֫צֶל Micah 1:11, according to Hi Ew Ca Ke = אַָצל Zechariah 14:5, but dubious; compare II.אָצֵל below I. אָצֵל, in pause אָצַ֑ל (Ges§ 29. 4 c) proper name, masculine (perhaps noble, compare אָצִיל 2) a descendant of Jonathan 1 Chronicles 8:37,38 = 1 Chronicles 9:43,44. II. [אָצֵל], in pause אַָצל Zechariah 14:5, according to ᵐ5 ᵑ7 Thes Ew and others, proper name, of a location near Jerusalem; but no site found, & identification with בֵּיתהָֿאֵצֶל uncertain; hence Symm ᵑ9 Köh Wr make substantive, אֶלאַָֿצל = very near, hard by (אָצֵל being the supposed absolute form of I. אֵצֶל; compare Ol§ 167 b). Topical Lexicon Occurrences1 Chronicles 8:37; 8:38; 9:43; 9:44; Zechariah 14:5 (seven Hebrew occurrences with some duplications in the Chronicler’s parallel lists). Azel the Benjamite Descendant In the genealogies of Benjamin the name Azel (אָצֵל) appears as great-grandson of Saul through Jonathan. The Chronicler records: “Moza fathered Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son. Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan” (1 Chronicles 8:37-38; cf. 9:43-44). 1 Chronicles preserves the same material twice (chapters 8 and 9) to bind the post-exilic generation to its royal past and to underscore the enduring covenant promises to the house of Saul through Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:15). Azel’s six sons mark the full quiver imagery of Psalm 127:5 and signal divine blessing on a remnant line otherwise eclipsed by Davidic rule. The precise listing of each son reminds the Church that God knows individuals by name and that every family, however obscure, has a place in His redemptive story. Ministry Reflections from the Genealogies • God’s eye for detail invites believers to honor family history, recognize heritage, and steward generational faithfulness. Azel the Eschatological Refuge Zechariah 14:5 places Azel as a geographic marker east or southeast of Jerusalem: “You will flee by My mountain valley, for the valley of the mountains will extend to Azel. Yes, you will flee just as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with Him”. The context is the Day of the Lord, when the Mount of Olives splits, forming a valley that reaches to Azel. The location—likely in the Kidron or adjacent basin—functioned historically as an escape route; prophetically it becomes the channel through which God delivers His remnant and ushers in His personal return. The link with the Uzziah quake (Amos 1:1) anchors the prophecy in verifiable history while projecting it into future consummation, demonstrating Scripture’s seamless blend of past and future. Theological Significance Deliverance: Azel epitomizes God’s provision of a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13 typologically). Presence: The Lord Himself comes with “all the holy ones,” echoing Acts 1:11 and 1 Thessalonians 3:13. Judgment and Renewal: The same seismic event that threatens also opens the path of salvation, illustrating that divine judgment and mercy converge in the Messianic age. Historical and Geographical Notes Early Jewish tradition locates Azel in the valley of the Kidron, near present-day Silwan. Later pilgrims placed it farther south toward the wilderness ascent. The uncertainty does not diminish the prophecy; rather, it highlights the precision with which Zechariah spoke of real terrain, encouraging ongoing archaeological investigation and confirming that biblical prophecy engages tangible geography. Practical Applications 1. Teach genealogical passages as testimonies of divine faithfulness rather than as mere lists. Summary Azel, whether as person or place, illustrates God’s meticulous record-keeping, covenant fidelity, and future deliverance. The Chronicler’s lists and Zechariah’s prophecy together assure the faithful that every individual and every mile of earth lies under the sovereign eye of the Lord who keeps His promises and will personally intervene in history’s climactic hour. Forms and Transliterations אָצֵ֥ל אָצַֽל׃ אָצַל֒ אצל אצל׃ וּלְאָצֵל֮ ולאצל ’ā·ṣal ’ā·ṣêl ’āṣal ’āṣêl aTzal aTzel ū·lə·’ā·ṣêl ūlə’āṣêl uleaTzelLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 8:37 HEB: אֶלְעָשָׂ֥ה בְנ֖וֹ אָצֵ֥ל בְּנֽוֹ׃ NAS: Eleasah his son, Azel his son. KJV: Eleasah his son, Azel his son: INT: Eleasah his son Azel his son 1 Chronicles 8:38 1 Chronicles 8:38 1 Chronicles 9:43 1 Chronicles 9:44 1 Chronicles 9:44 Zechariah 14:5 7 Occurrences |
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