Azel is a figure whose primary significance lies in his place within the complex and meticulous genealogies of the tribe of Benjamin, particularly his descent from King Saul. His story is one of the many preserved family records that link the royal past of Israel to the returning community after the Babylonian Captivity.
The name Azel ($\text{‘Āṣēl}$) is a Hebrew name derived from a root meaning “Noble” or “Reserved.”
A Descendant of King Saul
Azel is explicitly listed as a direct descendant of Jonathan, the valiant son of the first King of Israel, Saul. The genealogical record of this family is traced down several generations from Jonathan to Azel’s father, Elasah.
These Benjaminite records were crucial, as the tribe of Benjamin provided the first king and remained loyal to the house of David, sharing the fate of Judah through the exile and the return.
The King James Version records Azel’s lineage:
And the sons of Jonathan were, Merib-baal, (1 Chronicles 8:34, referring to Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son)
And the sons of Merib-baal were, Micah, and Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea.
And the sons of Micah; Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz.
And Ahaz begat Jehoadah; and Jehoadah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza,
And Moza begat Binea: and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son: (1 Chronicles 8:35–38)
The Lineage of Six Sons
Azel’s importance is further magnified by the fact that the biblical record goes on to list his own six sons, effectively making him a new head of a major family branch within the tribe of Benjamin:
And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel. (1 Chronicles 8:38)
The detailed naming of Azel and his large family serves a significant purpose:
- Preservation of Royal Ties: It ensured that the lineage of King Saul, through his beloved son Jonathan, was not lost to history but was carefully preserved for the re-establishment of the people.
- Continuity of the Tribe: Azel is recorded as an ancestor who lived before the exile. The Chronicler preserves his name to affirm the heritage of the families who eventually returned to settle in Jerusalem and Benjaminite towns.
Azel, whose name means “Noble,” is a powerful example of how the scriptures meticulously preserve the history of families and individuals, ensuring that the covenant people’s past is directly linked to their present.