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 priesthood 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.)