Azgad is not an individual person in the biblical narrative, but rather the name of the progenitor of a large family line whose descendants played a significant role in the history of the Jewish people after the Babylonian exile.
The name Azgad ($\text{‘Azgāḏ}$) is a Hebrew name that means “Strong in Fortune” or “Strong Troop.”
Leaders in the Return from Exile
The family of Azgad is mentioned several times in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, providing a census of those who willingly returned from seventy years of exile in Babylon to settle once again in Judah and Jerusalem. This family was one of the largest contingents to participate in the momentous journey.
The King James Version records the sheer size of the family that returned with the first major wave of exiles led by Zerubbabel:
The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two. (Ezra 2:12)
The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two. (Nehemiah 7:17)
The discrepancy in the numbers between Ezra’s and Nehemiah’s lists is common in the biblical census records and is likely due to the inclusion of people who joined later, or simply a scribal difference in transcription, but the essential fact remains: the family of Azgad was among the most numerous to participate in the restoration.
The Covenant and Obedience
Centuries later, the name Azgad appears again in the list of the prominent lay leaders who sealed the solemn covenant of obedience under the leadership of Nehemiah and Ezra. This covenant renewal was a commitment by the people to walk in God’s law, avoid intermarriage, and support the Temple service.
The man who sealed the covenant on behalf of his family was one of Azgad’s descendants:
The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,
…Azgad, Bebai, Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, (Nehemiah 10:15–16)
By adding his seal, this leader affirmed the family’s allegiance to the restored community of faith.
Significance to the Restoration
The family of Azgad stands as a powerful symbol of the continuity of the covenant and the willing obedience of the Jewish people:
- Commitment: Their return from a comfortable life in Babylon was a costly act of faith, affirming their identity as the people of God.
- Leadership: Their involvement in sealing the covenant demonstrated that the spiritual commitment to God’s Law was embraced not just by priests and Levites, but by the leading lay families as well.
The name Azgad, “Strong in Fortune,” is preserved as a testament to the fact that the strength of the restored community lay in the size, dedication, and faithfulness of families like theirs.