PERSON · PRIEST
Aaron
Aaron was appointed by God as the first high priest of Israel, consecrated along with his sons to minister before the tabernacle (Exodus 28:1; Leviticus 8:1–2). He participated alongside Moses in the ten plagues against Egypt (Exodus 7–11) and interceded for the people by standing between the dead and the living to stop a plague (Numbers 16:47–48).
Exodus 4:14–16
The Story
He was not the one called at the burning bush. That honour — and that weight — fell to his younger brother. Yet when Moses trembled at the thought of standing before Pharaoh and pleaded his own inadequacy as a speaker, God did not simply reassure him. God sent him Aaron.
14And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. 15And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. 16And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.
Exodus 4:14–16·KJV
From that moment, the elder brother of Moses stepped into a story far larger than either of them could have foreseen, a story that would wind through plagues and wilderness and the construction of a holy place, and would end with a priesthood that outlasted them both.
Aaron enters the biblical account already a man of standing among the Israelites in Egypt. Scripture records that God told Moses his brother would come to meet him — and that Aaron's heart would be glad. The two men met in the wilderness, embraced, and together carried the word of the Lord to the elders of Israel. When Moses spoke, Aaron translated that speech into the hearing of Pharaoh's court and the assembled people. He was, as Scripture puts it, to be Moses's mouth, and Moses was to be as God to him. It was a partnership forged at divine initiative, each man given what the other lacked.
The plagues that fell upon Egypt bore both their names. Aaron's staff stretched over the waters, over the dust, over the air, and the signs came. Frogs, lice, darkness, death — the whole terrible procession that broke Egypt's grip on Israel moved partly through Aaron's obedient hand. He was present for every act of divine power that turned a nation of slaves toward the door. Scripture does not linger on Aaron's inner experience of these events — we are not told what he felt as he lifted that staff again and again — but the record makes plain that he stood faithfully at his brother's side through the long confrontation with Pharaoh.
Life & Legacy
Death
ScriptureAaron died on Mount Hor at the age of 123, after Moses stripped him of his priestly garments and put them on his son Eleazar, who succeeded him as high priest (Numbers 20:28). The people mourned for Aaron thirty days (Numbers 20:29).
Numbers 20:22–29; Numbers 33:38–39
Legacy
ScriptureAaron was the founding patriarch of the Israelite priesthood; all subsequent Israelite high priests were required to be of his line (Exodus 28:1; Numbers 18:1). His staff that budded and bore almonds was kept before the ark as a sign against rebellion (Numbers 17:10). In Hebrews 5:4 his appointment is cited as the model by which a high priest must be called by God.
Exodus 28:1; Numbers 17:10; Hebrews 5:4
Character
ScriptureAaron served as Moses's spokesman before Pharaoh and the Israelites because Moses felt unable to speak eloquently (Exodus 4:14–16). He nonetheless yielded to the people's pressure and fashioned the golden calf during Moses's absence on Sinai (Exodus 32:1–6), and he joined Miriam in speaking against Moses, for which Miriam was struck with leprosy (Numbers 12:1–11).
Exodus 4:14–16; Exodus 32:1–6; Numbers 12:1–11
Significance
ScriptureAaron was appointed by God as the first high priest of Israel, consecrated along with his sons to minister before the tabernacle (Exodus 28:1; Leviticus 8:1–2). He participated alongside Moses in the ten plagues against Egypt (Exodus 7–11) and interceded for the people by standing between the dead and the living to stop a plague (Numbers 16:47–48).
Exodus 28:1; Leviticus 8:1–2; Numbers 16:47–48
DeathScripture
Aaron died on Mount Hor at the age of 123, after Moses stripped him of his priestly garments and put them on his son Eleazar, who succeeded him as high priest (Numbers 20:28). The people mourned for Aaron thirty days (Numbers 20:29).
Numbers 20:22–29; Numbers 33:38–39
LegacyScripture
Aaron was the founding patriarch of the Israelite priesthood; all subsequent Israelite high priests were required to be of his line (Exodus 28:1; Numbers 18:1). His staff that budded and bore almonds was kept before the ark as a sign against rebellion (Numbers 17:10). In Hebrews 5:4 his appointment is cited as the model by which a high priest must be called by God.
Exodus 28:1; Numbers 17:10; Hebrews 5:4
CharacterScripture
Aaron served as Moses's spokesman before Pharaoh and the Israelites because Moses felt unable to speak eloquently (Exodus 4:14–16). He nonetheless yielded to the people's pressure and fashioned the golden calf during Moses's absence on Sinai (Exodus 32:1–6), and he joined Miriam in speaking against Moses, for which Miriam was struck with leprosy (Numbers 12:1–11).
Exodus 4:14–16; Exodus 32:1–6; Numbers 12:1–11
SignificanceScripture
Aaron was appointed by God as the first high priest of Israel, consecrated along with his sons to minister before the tabernacle (Exodus 28:1; Leviticus 8:1–2). He participated alongside Moses in the ten plagues against Egypt (Exodus 7–11) and interceded for the people by standing between the dead and the living to stop a plague (Numbers 16:47–48).
Exodus 28:1; Leviticus 8:1–2; Numbers 16:47–48
Artist's impression