Aaron

Family: Israelites · Role: spokesman and Levite · First appears: Exodus 4

In Exodus 4, God appointed Aaron, a Levite and spokesman, to stand with his brother Moses before Israel and Pharaoh: “he shall be thy spokesman unto the people.” God sent him into the wilderness to meet Moses, whom he kissed, and charged them both to bring Israel out of Egypt. Aaron was the son of Amram and Jochebed, brother of Moses and Miriam, and in Exodus 6 he married Elisheba, with whom he had Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

In Egypt, Aaron spoke to Pharaoh and acted at God’s command through Moses. His rod became a serpent and swallowed the magicians’ rods; he stretched it over Egypt’s waters, bringing frogs and lice, while he and Moses continued demanding Israel’s release. After leaving Egypt, Aaron spoke before the congregation as God’s glory appeared, preserved manna at Moses’s command, and supported Moses’ hands with Hur until sunset. He also joined Moses in the Passover instructions and in confronting Pharaoh, who alternately resisted, promised release, asked for prayer, and finally ordered them to leave.

At Sinai and afterward, God appointed Aaron and his sons to the priesthood. Aaron tended the lamps, burned incense, made yearly atonement, offered sacrifices for himself and the people, blessed the congregation, and judged cases of leprosy and ritual uncleanness. Moses anointed and consecrated him, while his sons served with him; the Levites were given to Aaron and his sons for tabernacle service. Aaron nevertheless fashioned the molten calf in Exodus 32, and in Numbers 12 he and Miriam spoke against Moses. Later, Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and On rebelled against Aaron and Moses, while Aaron made atonement for the plague-stricken congregation and stood between the dead and the living until the plague stopped.

In Numbers 18, God gave Aaron the priestly office, charge of the holy offerings, and a perpetual covenant, declaring, “I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.” At Meribah, God judged Aaron and Moses by barring them from bringing Israel into the promised land. On Mount Hor, Moses transferred Aaron’s garments to Eleazar, and Aaron died; the congregation mourned him for thirty days. Deuteronomy records his burial at Mosera and Eleazar’s succession to the priestly office.