Old Testament Characters

Aaron

Text:  the eldest son of Amram and Jochebed, a daughter of Levi (Ex. 
6:20). Some explain the name as meaning mountaineer, others mountain 
of strength, illuminator. He was born in Egypt three years before his 
brother Moses, and a number of years after his sister Miriam (2:1,4; 
7:7). He married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab of the house of 
Judah (6:23; 1 Chr. 2:10), by whom he had four sons, Nadab and Abihu, 
Eleazar and Ithamar. 

When the time for the deliverance of Isarael out of Egypt drew nigh, 
he was sent by God (Ex. 4:14, 27-30) to meet his long-absent brother, 
that he might co-operate with him in all that they were required to do 
in bringing about the Exodus. He was to be the "mouth" or "prophet" of 
Moses, i.e., was to speak for him, because he was a man of a ready 
utterance (7:1,2,9,10, 19). He was faithful to his trust, and stood by 
Moses in all his interviews with Pharaoh. 

When the ransomed tribes fought their first battle with Amalek in 
Rephidim, Moses stood on a hill overlooking the scene of the conflict 
with the rod of God in his outstretched hand. On this occasion he was 
attended by Aaron and Hur, his sister's husband, who held up his 
wearied hands till Joshua and the chosen warriors of Israel gained the 
victory (17:8-13). 

Afterwards, when encamped before Sinai, and when Moses at the command 
of God ascended the mount to receive the tables of the law, Aaron and 
his two sons, Nadab and Abihu, along with seventy of the elders of 
Israel, were permitted to accompany him part of the way, and to behold 
afar off the manifestation of the glory of Israel's God (Ex. 19:24; 
24:9-11). While Moses remained on the mountain with God, Aaron 
returned unto the people; and yielding through fear, or ignorance, or 
instability of character, to their clamour, made unto them a golden 
calf, and set it up as an object of worship (Ex. 32:4; Ps. 106:19). On 
the return of Moses to the camp, Aaron was sternly rebuked by him for 
the part he had acted in this matter; but he interceded for him before 
God, who forgave his sin (Deut. 9:20). 

On the mount, Moses received instructions regarding the system of 
worship which was to be set up among the people; and in accordance 
therewith Aaron and his sons were consecrated to the priest's office 
(Lev. 8;9). Aaron, as high priest, held henceforth the prominent place 
appertaining to that office. 

When Israel had reached Hazeroth, in "the wilderness of Paran," Aaron 
joined with his sister Miriam in murmuring against Moses, "because of 
the Ethiopian woman whom he had married," probably after the death of 
Zipporah. But the Lord vindicated his servant Moses, and punished 
Miriam with leprosy (Num. 12). Aaron acknowledged his own and his 
sister's guilt, and at the intercession of Moses they were forgiven. 

Twenty years after this, when the children of Israel were encamped in 
the wilderness of Paran, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram conspired against 
Aaron and his sons; but a fearful judgment from God fell upon them, 
and they were destroyed, and the next day thousands of the people also 
perished by a fierce pestilence, the ravages of which were only stayed 
by the interposition of Aaron (Num. 16). 

That there might be further evidence of the divine appointment of 
Aaron to the priestly office, the chiefs of the tribes were each 
required to bring to Moses a rod bearing on it the name of his tribe. 
And these, along with the rod of Aaron for the tribe of Levi, were 
laid up overnight in the tabernacle, and in the morning it was found 
that while the other rods remained unchanged, that of Aaron "for the 
house of Levi" budded, blossomed, and yielded almonds (Num. 17:1-10). 
This rod was afterwards preserved in the tabernacle (Heb. 9:4) as a 
memorial of the divine attestation of his appointment to the 
priesthood. 

Aaron was implicated in the sin of his brother at Meribah (Num. 
20:8-13), and on that account was not permitted to enter the Promised 
Land. When the tribes arrived at Mount Hor, "in the edge of the land 
of Edom," at the command of God Moses led Aaron and his son Eleazar to 
the top of that mountain, in the sight of all the people. There he 
stripped Aaron of his priestly vestments, and put them upon Eleazar; 
and there Aaron died on the top of the mount, being 123 years old 
(Num. 20:23-29. Comp. Deut. 10:6; 32:50), and was "gathered unto his 
people." The people, "even all the house of Israel," mourned for him 
thirty days. 

Of Aaron's sons two survived him, Eleazar, whose family held the 
high-priesthood till the time of Eli; and Ithamar, in whose family, 
beginning with Eli, the high-priesthood was held till the time of 
Solomon. Aaron's other two sons had been struck dead (Lev. 10:1, 2) 
for the daring impiety of offering "strange fire" on the alter of 
incense. 

The Arabs still show with veneration the traditionary site of Aaron's 
grave on one of the two summits of Mount Hor, which is marked by a 
Mohammedan chapel. His name is mentioned in the Koran, and there are 
found in the writings of the rabbins many fabulous stories regarding 
him. He was the first anointed priest. 

His descendants, "the house of Aaron," constituted the priesthood in 
general. In the time of David they were very numerous (1 Chr. 12:27). 
The other branches of the tribe of Levi held subordinate positions in 
connection with the sacred office. 

Aaron was a type of Christ in his official character as the high 
priest. His priest-hood was a "shadow of heavenly things," and was 
intended to lead the people of Israel to look forward to the time when 
"another priest" would arise "after the order of Melchizedek" (Heb. 
6:20). (See MOSES.)