Azal (Bible)
Encyclopedia
Azal or Azel, is the location mentioned in the Book of Zechariah
14:5 in bibles that use the Hebrew Masoretic Text
as the source for this verse. In bibles that follow the Greek Septuagint (LXX) rendering, depending upon the source manuscript used, Azal is transcribed Jasol (ιασολ, pronounced Yasol), Jasod (a corruption of Jasol), or Asael (ασαηλ):
, also follows this usage. Most bible commentators have considered Azal to be a place near Jerusalem. Cyril of Jerusalem
(c. 313 – 386) is claimed to have heard that Azal was a village east of the Mount of Olives
; but Frederick C. Eiselen wrote in his 1907 work The Minor prophets that Cyril's report was based on hearsay. In 1850, Rabbi Joseph Schwarz claimed that Azal was modern Azaria situated a half mile southeast of the Mount of Corruption (southernmost peak of the Mount of Olives
). This location cannot refer to modern al-Eizariya
(Bethany in New Testament times) because the latter lies several kilometers due east of the same mount. Between 1873 and 1874, Charles Simon Clermont-Ganneau
, the linguist and archaeologist responsible for identifying the site of the ancient Canaanite
city of Gezer
and preserving the Mesha Stele
's inscriptions, explored many tombs in a valley immediately south of Jerusalem, which the peasants of Silwan
called Wady Yasul. Based on geographic and linguistic evidence, Clermont-Ganneau proposed that Wady Yasul is Azal. Currently, this valley is bordered on the west by the Jerusalem Peace Forest; on the north by the Abu Tor
neighborhood on the southern slope of the Hill of Evil Council; and on the south by the ridge where the former UN headquarters sits. The mouth of the valley lies at the base of the southernmost summit of the Mount of Olives (Mount of Corruption). Its Hebrew name is Nahal Etzel (נחל אצל).
There is evidence that Clermont-Ganneau's theory and the LXX rendering of Zechariah 14:5 are correct. In 1984, Israeli geologists Daniel Wachs and Dov Levitte identified the location of a large landslide on the Mount of Olives that is directly adjacent to both Wady Yasul/Nahal Etzel and the area of the ancient kings' gardens.. A photograph of Jerusalem taken by a member of the American Colony, Jerusalem in the early part of the 20th century includes this location in its view. In the photo, Wady Yasul (Nahal Etzel) lies in the foreground, the southern summit of the Mount of Olives lies to the right (the location identified by Wachs and Levitte), and Jerusalem lies in the background. Wachs' and Levitte's discovery validates Jewish historian Flavius Josephus' account of an earthquake-caused landslide during King Uzziah
's reign blocking up the kings' gardens in the valley. It also accords with the LXX rendering of Zechariah 14:5, which states a valley will be blocked up as far as Azal. Additionally, the Israelis named this valley Nahal (נחל, i.e., stream or valley) Etzel (אצל), which is spelled identical to Azal (אצל).
Book of Zechariah
The Book of Zechariah is the penultimate book of the twelve minor prophets in the Hebrew and Christian Bible, attributed to the prophet Zechariah.-Historical context:...
14:5 in bibles that use the Hebrew Masoretic Text
Masoretic Text
The Masoretic Text is the authoritative Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible and is regarded as Judaism's official version of the Tanakh. While the Masoretic Text defines the books of the Jewish canon, it also defines the precise letter-text of these biblical books, with their vocalization and...
as the source for this verse. In bibles that follow the Greek Septuagint (LXX) rendering, depending upon the source manuscript used, Azal is transcribed Jasol (ιασολ, pronounced Yasol), Jasod (a corruption of Jasol), or Asael (ασαηλ):
Theories on location
No written work prior to the late 19th-century definitively identifies what, or where, Azal is or was. The Holman Bible Dictionary asserts as one possibility that the phrase that is normally translated “to Azal” (אל־אצל) is a preposition instead of a location. The Douay–Rheims Bible, a translation into English from the Latin VulgateVulgate
The Vulgate is a late 4th-century Latin translation of the Bible. It was largely the work of St. Jerome, who was commissioned by Pope Damasus I in 382 to make a revision of the old Latin translations...
, also follows this usage. Most bible commentators have considered Azal to be a place near Jerusalem. Cyril of Jerusalem
Cyril of Jerusalem
Cyril of Jerusalem was a distinguished theologian of the early Church . He is venerated as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion. In 1883, Cyril was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII...
(c. 313 – 386) is claimed to have heard that Azal was a village east of the Mount of Olives
Mount of Olives
The Mount of Olives is a mountain ridge in East Jerusalem with three peaks running from north to south. The highest, at-Tur, rises to 818 meters . It is named for the olive groves that once covered its slopes...
; but Frederick C. Eiselen wrote in his 1907 work The Minor prophets that Cyril's report was based on hearsay. In 1850, Rabbi Joseph Schwarz claimed that Azal was modern Azaria situated a half mile southeast of the Mount of Corruption (southernmost peak of the Mount of Olives
Mount of Olives
The Mount of Olives is a mountain ridge in East Jerusalem with three peaks running from north to south. The highest, at-Tur, rises to 818 meters . It is named for the olive groves that once covered its slopes...
). This location cannot refer to modern al-Eizariya
Al-Eizariya
Al-Eizariya or al-Izzariya , sometimes referred to by its medieval name of Bethany, is a city in the West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, it is the second largest Palestinian city in the Jerusalem Governorate , with a population of 17,606 inhabitants.Located on the...
(Bethany in New Testament times) because the latter lies several kilometers due east of the same mount. Between 1873 and 1874, Charles Simon Clermont-Ganneau
Charles Simon Clermont-Ganneau
Charles Simon Clermont-Ganneau was a noted French Orientalist and archaeologist.-Biography:Clermont-Ganneau was born in Paris, son of a sculptor of some repute...
, the linguist and archaeologist responsible for identifying the site of the ancient Canaanite
Canaanite
Canaanite may refer to:*Canaan and Canaanite people, a historical/Biblical region and people in the area of the present-day Gaza Strip, Israel, West Bank, and Lebanon.*Canaanite languages*Canaanite religion...
city of Gezer
Gezer
Gezer was a Canaanite city-state and biblical town in ancient Israel. Tel Gezer , an archaeological site midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, is now an Israeli national park....
and preserving the Mesha Stele
Mesha Stele
The Mesha Stele is a black basalt stone bearing an inscription by the 9th century BC ruler Mesha of Moab in Jordan....
's inscriptions, explored many tombs in a valley immediately south of Jerusalem, which the peasants of Silwan
Silwan
Silwan or Wadi Hilweh is a predominantly Palestinian village adjacent to the Old City of Jerusalem. In recent years a small Jewish minority of 40 families has settled in the area. The village is located in East Jerusalem, an area occupied by Jordan from 1948 until the 1967 Six-day War and by Israel...
called Wady Yasul. Based on geographic and linguistic evidence, Clermont-Ganneau proposed that Wady Yasul is Azal. Currently, this valley is bordered on the west by the Jerusalem Peace Forest; on the north by the Abu Tor
Abu Tor
Abu Tor is a mixed Jewish and Arab neighborhood in central Jerusalem, Israel, south of the Old City. Abu Tor is bounded by the Valley of Hinnom on the north, Hebron Road and the old Jerusalem Railway Station to the west, and the Sherover Promenade, Armon HaNetziv and Peace Forest to the south...
neighborhood on the southern slope of the Hill of Evil Council; and on the south by the ridge where the former UN headquarters sits. The mouth of the valley lies at the base of the southernmost summit of the Mount of Olives (Mount of Corruption). Its Hebrew name is Nahal Etzel (נחל אצל).
There is evidence that Clermont-Ganneau's theory and the LXX rendering of Zechariah 14:5 are correct. In 1984, Israeli geologists Daniel Wachs and Dov Levitte identified the location of a large landslide on the Mount of Olives that is directly adjacent to both Wady Yasul/Nahal Etzel and the area of the ancient kings' gardens.. A photograph of Jerusalem taken by a member of the American Colony, Jerusalem in the early part of the 20th century includes this location in its view. In the photo, Wady Yasul (Nahal Etzel) lies in the foreground, the southern summit of the Mount of Olives lies to the right (the location identified by Wachs and Levitte), and Jerusalem lies in the background. Wachs' and Levitte's discovery validates Jewish historian Flavius Josephus' account of an earthquake-caused landslide during King Uzziah
Uzziah
Uzziah , also known as Azariah , was the king of the ancient Kingdom of Judah, and one of Amaziah's sons, whom the people appointed to replace his father...
's reign blocking up the kings' gardens in the valley. It also accords with the LXX rendering of Zechariah 14:5, which states a valley will be blocked up as far as Azal. Additionally, the Israelis named this valley Nahal (נחל, i.e., stream or valley) Etzel (אצל), which is spelled identical to Azal (אצל).