Aaron (Exodus 4:10–17; Exodus 4:27–31; Exodus 7:8–13; Exodus 17:8–13; Exodus 24:9–11; Exodus 28:1–4; Exodus 32:1–6; Exodus 32:21–25; Leviticus 8:1–36; Leviticus 9:1–24; Leviticus 10:1–20; Numbers 12:1–16; Numbers 16:41–50; Numbers 17:1–13; Numbers 20:1–29; Numbers 33:38–39; Deuteronomy 10:6; Hebrews 5:1–4; Hebrews 7:11)

Brother of Moses, First High Priest

The brother of Moses, a Levite whom the LORD named as spokesman for Moses, who spoke and did signs before Pharaoh, stayed up Moses' hands against Amalek, made the golden calf, was consecrated with his sons to the priest's office, spoke against Moses with Miriam, stood between the dead and the living, and died on the mount.

Scripture first names him as a son of Amram and Jochebed: “she bare him Aaron and Moses” (Exodus 6:20). When Moses, after saying that he was slow of speech, asked the LORD to send by another, the anger of the LORD was kindled, and he answered, “Is there not Aaron thy brother the Levite? I know that he can speak well” (Exodus 4:14), and said that Aaron “shall be to thee a mouth, and thou shalt be to him as God” (Exodus 4:16). Aaron met Moses in the mountain of God and kissed him, then “spake all the words which Jehovah had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people” (Exodus 4:30). He stood with Moses before Pharaoh, cast down his rod, and stretched it out over the waters and the dust. At Rephidim he and Hur “stayed up his hands” (Exodus 17:12), and at Sinai he was told to be brought near “that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office” (Exodus 28:1).

The same Aaron to whom the people gathered, saying, “Up, make us gods, which shall go before us” (Exodus 32:1), made a molten calf; the LORD “smote the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made” (Exodus 32:35). Afterward Moses washed, clothed and anointed him, and “Aaron and his sons did all the things which Jehovah commanded by Moses” (Leviticus 8:36). On the eighth day he “lifted up his hands toward the people, and blessed them” (Leviticus 9:22). Then Nadab and Abihu, his sons, offered strange fire before the LORD and died; when Moses told him the LORD's word, “Aaron held his peace” (Leviticus 10:3).

Aaron and Miriam “spake against Moses” (Numbers 12:1), and Aaron said, “we have done foolishly, and for that we have sinned” (Numbers 12:11). When the plague began after Korah's rising, Aaron took his censer and “stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed” (Numbers 16:48); his rod “was budded, and put forth buds, and produced blossoms, and bare ripe almonds” (Numbers 17:8). At the waters of Meribah the LORD told Moses and Aaron they should not bring the assembly into the land, and at the end Numbers records, “Aaron died there on the top of the mount” (Numbers 20:28). The New Testament says of the high priest, “no man taketh the honor unto himself, but when he is called of God, even as was Aaron” (Hebrews 5:4), and asks what need there was for another priest to arise “and not be reckoned after the order of Aaron” (Hebrews 7:11).

Strengths

• Can speak well
• Met Moses and kissed him
• Stayed up Moses' hands
• Did as the LORD commanded
• Blessed the people
• Made atonement for the people

Weaknesses

• Made the molten calf
• Let the people loose
• Spake against Moses
• Rebelled against the word at Meribah

Themes

• Spokesman for Moses
• The priest's office
• Atonement
• Murmuring against Moses and Aaron
• Not entering the land

Named as spokesman for Moses (Exodus 4:10–17; Exodus 4:27–31)

Moses says he is slow of speech; the LORD names Aaron the Levite, who meets Moses at the mountain of God, speaks to the elders, does the signs, and the people believe.

Named as spokesman for Moses

Moses said, “Oh, Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue” (Exodus 4:10). After the LORD's answer, Moses asked that another be sent, “and the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is there not Aaron thy brother the Levite? I know that he can speak well” (Exodus 4:14).

“And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people; and it shall come to pass, that he shall be to thee a mouth, and thou shalt be to him as God” (Exodus 4:16). Later the LORD said, “Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet” (Exodus 7:1).

“And Jehovah said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mountain of God, and kissed him” (Exodus 4:27). “And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel: and Aaron spake all the words which Jehovah had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. And the people believed” (Exodus 4:29-31).

Before Pharaoh: the rod and the first plagues (Exodus 5:1–4; Exodus 7:1–13; Exodus 8:5–6; Exodus 8:16–17)

Moses and Aaron ask Pharaoh to let the people go and are refused; Aaron's rod becomes a serpent and swallows the rods of the magicians, and he stretches out his hand for the frogs and the lice.

Holds up the hands of Moses (Exodus 17:8–13)

While Joshua fights Amalek, Moses, Aaron and Hur go up the hill, and when Moses' hands are heavy Aaron and Hur stay them up on either side until the going down of the sun.

Goes up and sees the God of Israel (Exodus 24:1–2; Exodus 24:9–14)

At Sinai Aaron goes up with Moses, Nadab, Abihu and seventy elders, and they see the God of Israel and eat and drink; Moses leaves Aaron and Hur with the elders.

Consecrated to the priest's office (Exodus 28:1–4; Exodus 29:1–9; Leviticus 8:1–36)

The LORD tells Moses to bring Aaron and his sons near for the priest's office; Moses washes, clothes and anoints Aaron, and Aaron and his sons keep the seven days of consecration.

Consecrated to the priest's office

The LORD said to Moses, “And bring thou near unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons” (Exodus 28:1). Of the garments He said, “for glory and for beauty” (Exodus 28:2), and of the sons, “they shall have the priesthood by a perpetual statute” (Exodus 29:9).

In Leviticus the acts are Moses' and Aaron receives them: “And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water” (Leviticus 8:6). He put upon Aaron the coat, the robe and the ephod, and “placed the breastplate upon him: and in the breastplate he put the Urim and the Thummim” (Leviticus 8:8). “And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him” (Leviticus 8:12).

Moses said to Aaron and his sons, “ye shall not go out from the door of the tent of meeting seven days, until the days of your consecration be fulfilled” (Leviticus 8:33). The chapter ends, “And Aaron and his sons did all the things which Jehovah commanded by Moses” (Leviticus 8:36). The text records no words of Aaron in the scene.

The golden calf (Exodus 32:1–6; Exodus 32:21–25; Exodus 32:35)

While Moses is on the mount the people gather to Aaron and ask for gods; he collects their gold, makes a molten calf, builds an altar and proclaims a feast, and afterward answers Moses.

The golden calf

“And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us” (Exodus 32:1). Aaron said, “Break off the golden rings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me” (Exodus 32:2).

“And he received it at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, and made it a molten calf: and they said, These are thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To-morrow shall be a feast to Jehovah” (Exodus 32:4-5).

Moses asked, “What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought a great sin upon them?” (Exodus 32:21). Aaron answered, “Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on evil” (Exodus 32:22). He said of the gold, “so they gave it me; and I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf” (Exodus 32:24). The text adds that “Aaron had let them loose for a derision among their enemies” (Exodus 32:25), and that “Jehovah smote the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made” (Exodus 32:35). Moses later says, “And Jehovah was very angry with Aaron to destroy him: and I prayed for Aaron also at the same time” (Deuteronomy 9:20).

The eighth day: first offerings (Leviticus 9:1–24)

On the eighth day Aaron offers for himself and for the people, lifts up his hands and blesses them, and fire comes forth from before the LORD and consumes the offering.

Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1–20)

Nadab and Abihu offer strange fire and are devoured by fire from the LORD; Aaron holds his peace, is told not to mourn, and answers Moses about the sin-offering.

Nadab and Abihu

“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense thereon, and offered strange fire before Jehovah, which he had not commanded them. And there came forth fire from before Jehovah, and devoured them, and they died before Jehovah” (Leviticus 10:1-2).

“Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that Jehovah spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace” (Leviticus 10:3). Moses told Aaron, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Let not the hair of your heads go loose, neither rend your clothes; that ye die not” (Leviticus 10:6), and “they did according to the word of Moses” (Leviticus 10:7).

When Moses was angry that the goat of the sin-offering had been burnt and not eaten, “Aaron spake unto Moses, Behold, this day have they offered their sin-offering and their burnt-offering before Jehovah; and there have befallen me such things as these: and if I had eaten the sin-offering to-day, would it have been well-pleasing in the sight of Jehovah? And when Moses heard that, it was well-pleasing in his sight” (Leviticus 10:19-20). Numbers adds that they “had no children” (Numbers 3:4).

Aaron and Miriam speak against Moses (Numbers 12:1–16)

Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses because of the Cushite woman; the LORD calls the three to the tent of meeting, Miriam becomes leprous, and Aaron asks Moses not to lay sin upon them.

Korah's rising and the censer (Numbers 16:1–3; Numbers 16:16–18; Numbers 16:35; Numbers 16:41–50)

Korah and his company assemble against Moses and Aaron; the next day the congregation murmurs, the plague begins, and Aaron runs with his censer into the midst of the assembly and the plague is stayed.

Korah's rising and the censer

Korah, Dathan and Abiram, with two hundred and fifty princes of the congregation, “assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and Jehovah is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the assembly of Jehovah?” (Numbers 16:3). Moses told Korah to bring censers before the LORD, “thou also, and Aaron, each his censer” (Numbers 16:17). “And fire came forth from Jehovah, and devoured the two hundred and fifty men that offered the incense” (Numbers 16:35).

“But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of Jehovah” (Numbers 16:41). Moses and Aaron fell upon their faces, and Moses said, “Take thy censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and lay incense thereon, and carry it quickly unto the congregation, and make atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from Jehovah; the plague is begun” (Numbers 16:46).

“And Aaron took as Moses spake, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on the incense, and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed” (Numbers 16:47-48).

The rod that budded (Numbers 17:1–13)

The LORD has a rod taken from each fathers' house, with Aaron's name on the rod of Levi; on the morrow Aaron's rod has budded and borne almonds, and it is put back before the testimony as a token.

Meribah, and Aaron's death on the mount (Numbers 20:1–13; Numbers 20:22–29; Numbers 33:38–39; Deuteronomy 10:6)

At the waters of Meribah the LORD tells Moses and Aaron they shall not bring the assembly into the land; at the mount Aaron is stripped of his garments, which are put upon Eleazar, and he dies.

Meribah, and Aaron's death on the mount

There was no water for the congregation, and “they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron” (Numbers 20:2). The LORD said to Moses, “Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes, that it give forth its water” (Numbers 20:8). “And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; shall we bring you forth water out of this rock?” (Numbers 20:10). “And Moses lifted up his hand, and smote the rock with his rod twice” (Numbers 20:11).

“And Jehovah said unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed not in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them” (Numbers 20:12). At mount Hor the LORD said, “Aaron shall be gathered unto his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah” (Numbers 20:24).

“And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mount” (Numbers 20:28). “They wept for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel” (Numbers 20:29). Numbers 33 says he died “in mount Hor” (Numbers 33:39) when he was “a hundred and twenty and three years old” (Numbers 33:39). Deuteronomy 10:6, in an account of the journeys, names Moserah: “There Aaron died, and there he was buried” (Deuteronomy 10:6). Scripture records no words of Aaron at his death.

Moses (Exodus 4:14–16; Exodus 7:1–2; Numbers 12:1–2)

The LORD calls Aaron thy brother and gives him to Moses as a mouth; Aaron stands with him before Pharaoh and speaks against him with Miriam.

The LORD (Exodus 4:14–16; Exodus 28:1; Numbers 20:24)

Names Aaron as spokesman, appoints him to the priest's office, and tells him he shall not enter the land.

Miriam (Exodus 15:20; Numbers 12:1–15)

Named as the sister of Aaron; she and Aaron spake against Moses, and she was leprous.

Nadab and Abihu (Exodus 6:23; Leviticus 10:1–3; Numbers 3:2–4)

The first two sons of Aaron and Elisheba, who offered strange fire before the LORD and died without children.

Eleazar and Ithamar (Leviticus 10:6; Numbers 20:25–28; Deuteronomy 10:6)

The surviving sons; Aaron's garments were put upon Eleazar at the mount, and Eleazar ministered in the priest's office in his stead.

Hur (Exodus 17:10–12; Exodus 24:14)

Went up the hill with Moses and Aaron and stayed up Moses' hands with Aaron; left with Aaron among the elders.

Pharaoh (Exodus 5:1–4; Exodus 7:10–13)

Refused Moses and Aaron when they asked that the people go to hold a feast, and called for his magicians when Aaron's rod became a serpent.

Korah (Numbers 16:1–3; Numbers 16:17–18)

With Dathan and Abiram assembled against Moses and against Aaron, saying they take too much upon them.

The children of Israel (Exodus 32:1–4; Leviticus 9:22; Numbers 16:41–48; Numbers 20:29)

He blessed them and made atonement for them, though they gathered to him for gods and murmured against him; all the house of Israel wept for him thirty days.

Major sections

• Exodus 4–12
• Exodus 24
• Exodus 32
• Leviticus 8–10
• Numbers 12
• Numbers 16–17
• Numbers 20
• Deuteronomy 9–10

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