Who was Azaziah in the Bible?

Azaziah was a leader of the half-tribe of Manasseh during the reign of King David. He is mentioned only once in the Bible as an officer responsible for his tribe's contingent in David's monthly military divisions (1 Chronicles 27:20).

What was Azaziah's role in King David's kingdom?

Azaziah's role was as a military leader. He commanded 20,000 men from the half-tribe of Manasseh as part of the king's organized, rotating army, serving for one month of the year (1 Chronicles 27:1, 20).

Why is Azaziah mentioned in the Bible?

Azaziah is mentioned to document the organized structure of David's kingdom and military. His inclusion shows how David systematically appointed leaders from every tribe of Israel to ensure stable governance and national defense.

Azaziah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleLeader

Azaziah was the leader of the half-tribe of Manasseh during the reign of King David (1 Chr 27:20).

Azaziah

Biography

Azaziah served as the tribal leader over the half-tribe of Manasseh during the reign of King David (1 Chr 27:20). David organized the governance of Israel into monthly military divisions and tribal administrators, and Azaziah held the responsibility of overseeing the eastern, Transjordanian half of the tribe of Manasseh. The tribe of Manasseh, one of the two sons of Joseph, occupied territory on both sides of the Jordan River, making effective tribal leadership especially important for maintaining cohesion. Azaziah's appointment by David reflects the king's systematic effort to bind the tribal structure of Israel into a unified national administration. Though no further exploits are recorded, his leadership role during David's mature reign placed him among the significant governmental figures of Israel's golden period.

Significance

Azaziah the administrator of half-Manasseh represents the integration of tribal identity within Israel's emerging national structure under David. The Davidic administrative system described in 1 Chronicles 27 was essential to maintaining unity among the twelve tribes, whose centrifugal tendencies were a persistent source of political tension. Manasseh in particular, with its divided Transjordanian settlement, required capable, trustworthy leadership. Azaziah's role illustrates how David's kingdom, a type of the messianic kingdom, required not only military prowess and spiritual vision but also faithful administrators at every level. His appointment points to the value of regional and organizational leadership as part of the larger covenant community's health and cohesion.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 27:20

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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