Azzan is a figure whose name is preserved in the Book of Numbers, where he is noted for being the father of a prominent leader in the tribe of Asher during the final stages of the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness.
The name Azzan ($\text{‘Azzān}$) is a Hebrew name that means “Strong” or “Mighty.”
A Father in the Tribe of Asher
Azzan is mentioned in the specific context of the division of the Promised Land. Before the tribes crossed the Jordan River, God commanded Moses to appoint twelve men—one leader from each tribe—to serve on the commission that would oversee the accurate, fair, and orderly distribution of the land of Canaan.
Azzan is identified as the father of Paltiel, the man chosen to represent the tribe of Asher on this crucial committee.
The King James Version records the list of the appointed men and names Azzan in his role:
And these are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.
And ye shall take one prince of every tribe, to divide the land by inheritance.
And the names of the men are these: Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
…Of the tribe of the children of Asher, Paltiel the son of Azzan. (Numbers 34:16–17, 26)
Significance of the Role
The selection of these twelve leaders was essential to the fulfillment of the divine promise to give Israel the land “for an inheritance.” The appointment was not merely an administrative task; it was a sacred duty, demanding men of integrity and wisdom.
- Paltiel’s Responsibility: Azzan’s son, Paltiel, was entrusted with ensuring that the territory of Asher—which would be a fertile coastal region in the north—was properly surveyed and assigned to the families of his tribe.
- The Power of the Name: Azzan’s name, meaning “Strong,” resonates with the nature of his son’s task. The task of settling the land required physical strength, political resolve, and the strength of faith to complete the work God had begun.
Azzan, therefore, is a name preserved in the biblical record as the patriarch of a family that held a position of high trust and responsibility at the very moment Israel was transitioning from a nomadic people to a settled nation.