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Rashi (Vayikra 16:8) says:

Azazel: This is a strong and hard mountain, [with] a high cliff, as the Scripture says [in describing Azazel] (verse 22 below),“a precipitous land (אֶרֶץ גְּזֵרָה),” meaning a cut-off land [i.e., a sheer drop]. — [Torath Kohanim 16:28; Yoma 67b]

If Azazel refers to a mountain in Eretz Yisrael, where was goat sent before we entered Eretz Yisrael?

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    Azazel refers to a specific mountain?? Do you have a source for that? – Double AA♦ May 4 '12 at 18:13
  • Rashi (as translated on chabad.org) says: Azazel: This is a strong and hard mountain, [with] a high cliff, as the Scripture says [in describing Azazel] (verse 22 below),“a precipitous land (אֶרֶץ גְּזֵרָה),” meaning a cut-off land [i.e., a sheer drop]. — [Torath Kohanim 16:28; Yoma 67b] – chaimp May 4 '12 at 19:18
  • I take this to refer to a specific location. In fact, here is a picture of "Mount Azazel": en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Herodion_IMG_0627.JPG – chaimp May 4 '12 at 19:19
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    Wikipedia gives no source for why that is the mountain. In fact, it isn't even mentioned in the text, just in the picture's caption. I'm afraid you'll have to do better to convince me. – Double AA♦ May 4 '12 at 19:52
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    Chaim, not that I have any source for this, but couldn't the description of Azazel as being "a strong and hard mountain, [with] a high cliff, etc." as a particular kind of mountain, rather than a specific mountain? – HodofHod May 9 '12 at 13:42

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