“…One lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel”. Reconstruction of the image and cult of Azazel in ancient Judaism

Abstract

The article attempts to analyze the evolution of the image and cult of Azazel in ancient Judaism. The research was based on Middle Eastern cuneiform sources, texts of the Tanakh and other Jewish literature, as well as archeological data. The article aims to reveal how and why the image of Azazel was subsequently used in the ritual practice of the Jews. On the basis of a comparative mythological analysis, the author proposes a development scheme of the Azazel image as a deity of the desert, which is a typical deity ofthe Middle Eastern region. This article expresses the assumption that initially Azazel was a separate desert master, but in a length of time he retained only one of the main characteristics of the cult character – the communication function, the function of a «bridge», connecting two spaces – the sacred desert and the cities of Israel. Since the establishment of monotheism, no one else could appear as the owner of the desert, except for the One True God of the Jews. According to this theological logic, Yahweh should have absorbed all the functions, attributes and personalities of Azazel as the god of the desert, but, evidently, in this case, the image of Yahweh would become too cumbersome and uncomfortable, so it turned out easier to keep Azazel in the tradition.