Azriel

Three men named Azriel appear in the records — a tribal head from the eastern half of Manasseh, a Naphtalite father in David's tribal-officer roster, and the father of one of the officials sent to arrest Baruch and Jeremiah in the days of Jehoiakim. Each surfaces in a single verse, and the three stand at distinct points in the historical record.

A Tribal Head East of the Jordan

The first Azriel is listed among the heads of the fathers' houses of the eastern Manasseh settlement: "And these were the heads of their fathers' houses: even Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valor, famous men, heads of their fathers' houses" (1Ch 5:24). The phrase "mighty men of valor, famous men" attaches to the whole group, fixing him as a recognized chief in his clan.

Father of a Naphtalite Tribal Officer

A second Azriel surfaces as the father of Jeremoth, the officer set over the tribe of Naphtali in David's tribal-officer list: "of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel:" (1Ch 27:19). The reference is purely patronymic; the verse names him only to identify his son.

Father of an Arresting Officer Under Jehoiakim

A third Azriel appears in Jeremiah's account of the burning of the scroll, named as the father of Seraiah, one of three men dispatched by King Jehoiakim to seize Baruch and Jeremiah: "And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king's son, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet; but Yahweh hid them" (Jer 36:26). Here too the name functions as a patronymic, identifying which Seraiah the king sent.