Aaron- Hebrew/Jewish FigureMortal"High Priest of Israel"

Moses' Voice

When God called Moses at the burning bush, Moses protested that he was slow of speech. God gave him Aaron: "He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him." Aaron was three years older, born during the Egyptian oppression. He had stayed in Egypt through Moses' forty-year exile in Midian. When God sent Moses back, He sent Aaron to meet him. The brothers embraced at the mountain of God and went together to confront Pharaoh.

Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and it became a serpent; when Pharaoh's magicians did the same, Aaron's serpent swallowed theirs. He stretched out his rod over the waters of Egypt and turned them to blood. He struck the dust and brought gnats. Moses received the commands; Aaron executed them.

The Golden Calf

When Moses delayed returning from forty days on Mount Sinai, the people grew restless: "Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, we do not know what has become of him." Aaron collected their golden earrings, fashioned them into a calf, and proclaimed: "Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord."

Moses descended, saw the calf and the dancing, and shattered the tablets at the mountain's foot. He ground the calf to powder, scattered it on water, and made the people drink. He confronted Aaron: "What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?"

Aaron's excuse: "You know the people, that they are set on evil. They said to me, 'Make us gods.' So I said, 'Let any who have gold take it off.' They gave it to me, I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf." Three thousand died that day by the swords of the Levites. Aaron lived. God consecrated him High Priest.

Aaron's Rod

Korah and a company of Levites challenged Aaron's authority: why should Moses and Aaron elevate themselves above the congregation? The earth opened and swallowed Korah and his household. Fire consumed the two hundred and fifty men who had offered incense.

To settle the matter, God commanded a test. Each tribal leader placed his rod in the tent of meeting. The next day, Aaron's rod had sprouted buds, blossoms, and ripe almonds. It was placed before the Ark as testimony.

Death on Mount Hor

Aaron died on Mount Hor at the border of Edom, at age one hundred and twenty-three. God told Moses to bring Aaron and his son Eleazar up the mountain: "Strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron shall be gathered to his people and shall die there." Moses removed the priestly garments from his brother and dressed Eleazar in them. Aaron died on the mountaintop. Moses and Eleazar came down alone. Israel mourned thirty days.

The blessing God gave Aaron to speak over Israel: "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."