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The Masoretic Hebrew text of Leviticus 16:8 leaves the identity of Azazel open to interpretation, naming it as the destination for one of the goats. The Samaritan Pentateuch affirms the supernatural interpretation by identifying Azazel as a destructive angel.
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Leviticus 16:8
Hebrew Bible
6 Then Aaron is to present the sin-offering bull which is for himself and is to make atonement on behalf of himself and his household. 7 Next he must take the two goats and stand them before the Lord at the entrance of the Meeting Tent, 8 and Aaron is to cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the Lord and one lot for Azazel. 9 Aaron must then present the goat which has been designated by lot for the Lord, and he is to make it a sin offering, 10 but the goat which has been designated by lot for Azazel is to be stood alive before the Lord to make atonement on it by sending it away into the desert to Azazel.
Date: 5th Century B.C.E. (Final composition) (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Samaritan Leviticus 16:8
Samaritan Penteteuch
Samaritan
6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house. 7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for Ezaazel. 9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. 10 But the goat, on which the lot for Ezaazel fell, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go send it into the desert to Ezaazel.
Date: 130-120 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Leviticus 16:8, 10, 26: “Ezaazel” — Name of Angel of Destruction, according to Israelite Samaritan tradition ..."
Tsedaka, Benyamim
The Israelite Samaritan Version of the Torah: First English Translation Compared with the Masoretic Version
(p. 267) William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2013
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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