Aaron
“Uncertain; possibly 'mountaineer' or 'enlightened'”
Summary
The eldest son of Amram and Jochebed, brother of Moses and Miriam, who served as the first high priest of Israel and progenitor of the Aaronic priesthood.
☩Family and Early Life
Aaron was born to Amram and Jochebed of the tribe of Levi, three years before Moses. According to genealogical lists, he was fourth in descent from Levi. His sister Miriam was the eldest of the three siblings. Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, a prince of Judah, by whom he had four sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
☩Spokesman for Moses
When Moses objected to his divine commission on grounds of being slow of speech, God appointed Aaron as his spokesman. Aaron met Moses at Mount Horeb after forty years of separation and introduced him to the elders of Israel. Throughout the encounters with Pharaoh, Aaron served as Moses' interpreter and performed many of the miracles with his rod. During the battle with Amalek, Aaron and Hur supported Moses' weary hands as he held up the rod of God.
☩The Golden Calf Incident
When Moses delayed on Mount Sinai, the people pressured Aaron to make visible gods for them. Aaron collected their gold ornaments and fashioned a golden calf, proclaiming a feast to Jehovah. This revealed Aaron's weaker character compared to his brother—while Moses drew strength from communion with God on the mountain, Aaron below yielded to popular pressure. Moses interceded for Aaron, who deeply repented, and God forgave him.
☩Consecration as High Priest
Despite his failure, Aaron was consecrated to the high priesthood as God had foreordained. The consecration included a sin offering, burnt offering, and the special ram of consecration. He was invested with the sacred garments—breastplate, ephod, robe, embroidered coat, mitre, and girdle—and anointed with holy oil symbolizing divine grace. His sons were ordained as priests, though Nadab and Abihu died for offering unauthorized fire before the Lord.
☩Challenges to His Authority
Aaron joined Miriam in murmuring against Moses' Ethiopian wife, for which Miriam was struck with leprosy. Aaron's repentance was swift, and he interceded for his sister's healing. Later, Korah and his followers rebelled against Aaron's exclusive priesthood. Divine judgment consumed the rebels, and a plague broke out among the people. Aaron, at Moses' command, made atonement with incense, standing between the living and the dead to stop the plague. His authority was further confirmed when his rod alone budded, blossomed, and bore almonds among the twelve tribal rods.
☩Death on Mount Hor
Because Aaron shared Moses' sin at Meribah, striking the rock in unbelief, he was forbidden to enter Canaan. At Mount Hor, Moses removed Aaron's priestly garments and placed them on his son Eleazar. Aaron died at the age of 123 and was buried on the mountain. Israel mourned for him thirty days. The Arabs still show the traditional site of his grave, and Jews commemorate his death with a fast on the first of Ab.
☩Typological Significance
Aaron serves as a type of Christ in his priestly office. Like Christ, he did not take the honor to himself but was called by God. He bore the names of Israel's tribes on his shoulders and breast, presenting them before God. His anointing prefigured the Holy Spirit's unction upon Christ. However, the Aaronic priesthood was imperfect—Aaron had to offer sacrifices for his own sins and could enter the Holy of Holies only once yearly. Christ's priesthood, after the order of Melchizedek, is eternal and superior, offering a sacrifice once for all.
Related Verses342 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Aaron," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Aaron," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.Philip Schaff and Johann Herzog (ed.), "Aaron," in The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. I (Funk and Wagnalls, 1908–1914).
- 4.George Morrish, "Aaron," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 5.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Aaron," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 6.James Hastings (ed.), "Aaron," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).