Azaz is a figure whose name is found within the carefully preserved genealogies of the tribe of Reuben, the firstborn son of Jacob. Like many names in the Books of Chronicles, his purpose in the scriptural record is to establish the lineage and identity of a significant family group within Israel.
The name Azaz ($\text{‘Āzāz}$) is a Hebrew name derived from a root meaning “Strong,” “Fierce,” or “Robust.”
A Son of Reuben
Azaz is specifically listed among the descendants of Joel, a prominent leader in the tribe of Reuben. The tribe of Reuben was settled on the east side of the Jordan River, and the genealogical record here is preserved to document the leading men who lived in that area before the Assyrian deportation.
The King James Version records his specific place in the family tree:
The sons of Joel; Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,
Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son,
And Beerah his son, whom Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria carried away captive: he was prince of the Reubenites.
And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, were the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,
And Bela, the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, even unto Nebo and Baal-meon: (1 Chronicles 5:4-8)
Significance to the Tribal History
This passage, which mentions Azaz, serves several critical functions:
- Tribal Identity: It establishes the full identity and ancestry of Bela, one of the “chief” or leading men of the Reubenite community. Azaz is the grandfather of this prominent leader.
- Geographical Marker: It links this lineage to specific territories, noting their dwelling “in Aroer, even unto Nebo and Baal-meon.” This detail helps map the geographical extent of the tribe’s inheritance east of the Jordan.
- Historical Context: The genealogy is recorded immediately before the account of the tribe’s ultimate downfall and deportation by the Assyrian king, Tilgath-pilneser. Azaz’s name, meaning “Strong,” is ironically preserved in a list documenting a strong lineage that was eventually overcome by a stronger, external power due to the tribe’s transgressions.
Azaz, therefore, is a quiet but vital name, solidifying the historical record of the tribe of Reuben before the great captivity, ensuring that this portion of Israel’s heritage was not forgotten.