SCAPEGOAT, or AZAZEL On the great day of atone ment among the Jews, the high-priest was to choose two goats, and after presenting them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle, he was to met lots upon them, one lot being for the Lord, and the other " for Ansel." The one upon which the Lord's lot fell was to be sacri ficed as a sin offering, and the other was to be presented alive before the Lord to make an atonement with him, which was done by the high prieat laying both his hands on the head of the goat, and confessing over him the sins of all the people, which were thee said to be " put upon the head of the goat." The goat wa-s then to be sent away into the wilderness by the baud of a fit man, who was to let him go in the wilderness. (Levit., xvi. 8-28.) The meaning of •the word Aza:t1 is very doubtful. It seems to be derived from a root (which still exists in Arabic) meaning to separate. I. The common interpretation refers it to the goat itself as being seat away. 2. Some take it to be the place to which the goat was sent, as
being either a proper name, or merely a general term for a separate Mare or wilderness. 3. Spencer and most of the Gentian critics con eider it to be the name of an evil spirit, who was supposed to inhabit desert plates; • and they would translate Levit. xvi. 10, " to let him go to Aza:el (instead of, fur a scapegoat) into the wilderness." 4. It is maintained by Hengstenberg and others, that Satan is typified by the goat, the separated one, and this view seems corroborated by the passage in Zech. iii. Representing the sins of the people, which are upon repentance to be forgiven, he is driven away into the desert. It is also considered to be typical of Christ, so fares a vicarious atonement is to be accepted under certain conditions for committed sins.