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•AVIM a people dwelling in Hazerim, or “the villages” or “encampments” on the south-west corner of the sea-coast (Deuteronomy 2:23). They were subdued and driven northward by the Caphtorim. A trace of them is afterwards found in Joshua 13:3, where they are called Avites.
•AWL an instrument only referred to in connection with the custom of boring the ear of a slave (Exodus 21:6; Deuteronomy 15:17), in token of his volunteering perpetual service when he might be free. (Comp. Psalm 40:6; Isaiah 50:5).
•AXE used in the Authorized Version of Deuteronomy 19:5; 20:19; 1 Kings 6:7, as the translation of a Hebrew word which means “chopping.” It was used for felling trees (Isaiah 10:34) and hewing timber for building. It is the rendering of a different word in Judges 9:48, 1 Samuel 13:20, 21, Psalm 74:5, which refers to its sharpness. In 2 Kings 6:5 it is the translation of a word used with reference to its being made of iron. In Isaiah 44:12 the Revised Version renders by “axe” the Hebrew maatsad, which means a “hewing” instrument. In the Authorized Version it is rendered “tongs.” It is also used in Jeremiah 10:3, and rendered “axe.” The “battle-axe” (army of Medes and Persians) mentioned in Jeremiah 51:20 was probably, as noted in the margin of the Revised Version, a “maul” or heavy mace. In Psalm 74:6 the word so rendered means “feller.” (See the figurative expression in Matthew 3:10; Luke 3:9.)
•AZAL (Zechariah 14:5) should perhaps be rendered “very near” = “the way of escape shall be made easy.” If a proper name, it may denote some place near the western extremity of the valley here spoken of near Jerusalem.
•AZARIAH whom Jehovah helps. (1.) Son of Ethan, of the tribe of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:8).
(2.) Son of Ahimaaz, who succeeded his grandfather Zadok as high priest (1 Chronicles 6:9; 1 Kings 4:2) in the days of Solomon. He officiated at the consecration of the temple (1 Chronicles 6:10).
(3.) The son of Johanan, high priest in the reign of Abijah and Asa (2 Chronicles 6:10, 11).
(4.) High priest in the reign of Uzziah, king of Judah (2 Kings 14:21; 2 Chronicles 26:17-20). He was contemporary with the prophets Isaiah, Amos, and Joel.