Aaron

Life and work

Aaron was born to Amram and Jochebed of the tribe of Levi, three years before his younger brother Moses, and is first introduced when God, responding to Moses's protests of inadequate speech, appoints Aaron to serve as his brother's spokesman before Pharaoh (Exodus 4:14-16; 7:7). Aaron met Moses in the wilderness after Moses's long exile and accompanied him back into Egypt to confront Pharaoh (Exodus 4:27-31).

Throughout the plague narrative, Aaron frequently acts as the visible agent of God's power at Moses's direction — his staff becomes a serpent before Pharaoh's magicians, and he stretches out his staff or hand to initiate several of the plagues, including the transformation of the Nile to blood and the plagues of frogs, gnats, and hail (Exodus 7:9-12, 19-20; 8:5-6, 16-17; 9:22-23).

At Mount Sinai, while Moses was on the mountain receiving the Law, Aaron capitulated to the people's demand for a visible god, collecting their gold jewelry and fashioning a golden calf, which he presented as the deity that had brought Israel out of Egypt — a serious lapse that provoked God's anger and Moses's fury upon his return, though Aaron himself was spared direct punishment (Exodus 32:1-6, 21-24).

Despite this failure, Aaron was subsequently consecrated by Moses as Israel's first high priest, along with his sons, in an elaborate ordination ceremony establishing the Aaronic priesthood, clothed in garments of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet with the breastpiece bearing the names of Israel's twelve tribes (Exodus 28-29; Leviticus 8). His sons Nadab and Abihu were struck dead for offering 'unauthorized fire' before the Lord, a loss Aaron bore in silence (Leviticus 10:1-3).

Aaron's authority was challenged during the wilderness years, notably in the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, after which his staff miraculously budded and produced almonds overnight as a divine confirmation of his priestly office (Numbers 16-17). He also joined his sister Miriam in criticizing Moses over his Cushite wife, for which Miriam alone was struck with leprosy while Aaron, as priest, interceded on her behalf (Numbers 12:1-13).

Aaron shared in the judgment against Moses for the incident at the waters of Meribah and, like his brother, was barred from entering the promised land. He died at 123 on Mount Hor, where his priestly garments were transferred to his son Eleazar in a formal succession ceremony before Aaron's death (Numbers 20:22-29).

Dating

Three years older than Moses (Exodus 7:7); died at 123 on Mount Hor on the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth wilderness year (Numbers 33:38-39). On the early-date (1446 BC, Nisan-year) Exodus, that fifth month falls in the summer of 1407 BC — roughly seven months before Moses' death in early 1406 — so Aaron's death year is best given as 1407 rather than 1406 BC. As with Moses, a late-date Exodus view shifts his whole life about two centuries later.

Questions and debates

Aaron personally collected the people's gold and fashioned the golden calf idol at Sinai, then built an altar before it and declared a feast to it — one of the most serious acts of covenant unfaithfulness recorded in the Torah, made more striking given his subsequent elevation to high priest (Exodus 32:1-6).

Extra-biblical evidence

No extra-biblical inscription or artifact names Aaron individually; he is known only from the biblical text and later Jewish and Christian tradition built upon it.

Scripture references

• Exodus 4:14-16 — Appointed by God as Moses's spokesman
• Exodus 32:1-6 — Fashions the golden calf while Moses is on Sinai
• Leviticus 8-9 — Consecrated as Israel's first high priest
• Numbers 20:22-29 — Dies on Mount Hor; priestly office passes to Eleazar
• Luke 1:5 — John the Baptist's mother Elizabeth is noted as 'of the daughters of Aaron'
• Acts 7:40 — Stephen recounts Israel's demand that Aaron make them gods
• Hebrews 5:4; 7:11 — Aaron's priesthood used as a point of comparison for Christ's priesthood

Further reading

• Encyclopaedia Britannica: Aaron

Reflect

Aaron, the confident speaker, caved to the crowd at the golden calf — when does pleasing people override your convictions?