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Cambridge Companion of the Bible:
Watson: Azazel, the completely separate one, the evil spirit regarded as dwelling in the desert.

As you can see there are various shades of meaning; though most agree that Azazel is an evil being who the Almighty banished to the wilderness. Beyond this I will not attempt an explanation, in case I am wrong and the other material A Voice In The Wilderness - Canada publishes - which is positive truth - is rejected.

13 years ago. Rating: 1
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Hastings Dictionary of the Bible, page 207 article Azazel:
The name of the spirit (Leviticus 16: 8, 10, 26) supposed to have its abode in the wilderness, to whom, on the day of Atonement, the goat laden with the sins of the people was sent (v 20-22). Azazel is not mentioned elsewhere in the OT; but the name occurs in the Book of Enoch (2nd cent. B.C.) as that of the leader of the evil angels who (Genesis 6: 2-4) formed unions with the daughters of men, and (as the legend is developed in the Book of Enoch) taught them various arts, and whose off-spring, the giants, filled the earth with unrighteousness and blood. On account of the wickedness wrought by Azazel upon earth, the four archangels, Michael, Gabriel, Uriel and Raphael (9: 1) are represented as impeaching him before the Almighty, who there upon (ch.10) bids Raphael bind him hand and foot, and secure him, under rough and jagged rocks, at a place in the desert called Dudael, until on the great day of judgment he is cast into the fire…

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Azazel
There are several interpretations concerning the scapegoat Azazel mentioned in (Leviticus 16). In my view, the matter is not critical; by which I mean that a believer’s misunderstanding is not regarded as sin. A Voice In The Wilderness - Canada does not publish material on the scapegoat: but, since the question is often asked, here are a few quotations taken from various sources concerning Azazel.

Westminster Dictionary of the Bible:
“Azazel = removal, in the sense of entire removal. The word occurs in one passage only (Leviticus 16: 8, 10, 26. AV) The data for determining its meaning are meagre and insufficient. Numerous interpretations have been proposed, but they are conjectures, more or less satisfactory... One of 3 interpretations is satisfactory:

1. To regard the word as the name of the spirit supposed to have his abode in the wilderness, remote from human habitation, to whom the goat laden with the sins of the people was sent. In Azazel may be the trace of illicit worship of demons or satyrs. If this be the case the Pentateuch recognizes such a demon only as an evil spirit to whom belong the sins of the people.

2. To regard the word as an abstraction. “Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one for Jehovah, and the other for Azazel (removal or dismissal) into the wilderness” The idea of the escaped goat is virtually preserved by this interpretation.

3. To regard the word as the epithet of the Devil, the Apostate One. Those who are laden with sin belong to the Devil...”

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Isn't that the evil cat from the Smurfs Cartoon? lol

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