First high priest of Israel; brother of Moses
c. 1530–1407 BC · Old Testament
The older brother of Moses, his spokesman before Pharaoh, and Israel's first high priest — whose priesthood (anointed by God himself) became the pattern for the entire OT priestly system.
Aaron was the older brother of Moses, born three years before him (Exodus 7:7). When Moses was called at the burning bush to deliver Israel from Egypt, he protested 'I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue' (Exodus 4:10). God gave him Aaron as his spokesman: 'he shall be thy spokesman unto the people' (Exodus 4:16). Together they confronted Pharaoh. Aaron's rod became a serpent, swallowed the Egyptian magicians' rods (Exodus 7:10-12), and worked the first three plagues (Exodus 7-8). At Mount Sinai, while Moses was on the mountain receiving the law, the people pressured Aaron and he made the golden calf (Exodus 32). It is his great failure — but Moses interceded for him (Deuteronomy 9:20) and he was preserved. God appointed Aaron Israel's first high priest. The detailed instructions for his consecration (Exodus 28-29; Leviticus 8) and the priesthood's ongoing service made Aaron the founder of Israel's priestly system. The high priest wore an ephod with twelve stones for the twelve tribes (Exodus 28), entered the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16), and bore Israel's burdens before God. Aaron's family carried the priesthood. His sons Nadab and Abihu offered 'strange fire' and were struck dead (Leviticus 10). His sons Eleazar and Ithamar continued the priesthood. Aaron was challenged by Korah's rebellion (Numbers 16); God vindicated him by making his rod bud (Numbers 17). Aaron died at Mount Hor at age 123 (Numbers 33:39) — barred from entering Canaan because of his and Moses' failure at Meribah (Numbers 20:12). His son Eleazar succeeded him. The New Testament contrasts Aaron with Christ. Hebrews 7 — Christ is a priest 'after the order of Melchizedek' rather than the order of Aaron — a higher priesthood. But Aaron's priesthood foreshadowed Christ's perfect priesthood.
"He shall be to thee instead of a mouth"
Plagues unleashed
Aaron's great failure
Founder of Israel's priesthood
Struck dead
Aaron's rod buds
Age 123
Aaron's significance: (1) He is Israel's first high priest — founder of the priestly system. (2) The Aaronic blessing (Numbers 6:24-26) — 'The LORD bless thee, and keep thee' — is still prayed today. (3) His priesthood foreshadowed Christ's perfect priesthood (Hebrews 5, 7). (4) His failure at the golden calf is a warning against pressure-driven leadership. (5) His vindication against Korah established the principle that God appoints priests, not popular acclaim.
“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”— Numbers 6:24-26 (the Aaronic blessing)
Aaron was the older brother of Moses (three years older, Exodus 7:7), his spokesman before Pharaoh during the exodus, and Israel's first high priest. He was consecrated by God himself (Leviticus 8) and his family carried the priesthood. He failed at the golden calf incident (Exodus 32) but was preserved. He died at Mount Hor at age 123 (Numbers 20:22-29).
Numbers 6:24-26 — God told Moses to instruct Aaron and his sons to bless Israel with these words: 'The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.' This is the oldest blessing in continuous Christian and Jewish liturgical use. Many churches still use it for benediction.
Exodus 32 — while Moses was on Mount Sinai for forty days, the people grew impatient and demanded gods to go before them. Aaron yielded to the pressure, collected gold, and made a calf — declaring 'These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.' God was angered; Moses interceded. The episode shows how pressure can corrupt even faithful leaders.
Hebrews 5-10 develops the contrast. Aaron's priesthood was: (1) inherited by family, (2) sin-filled (priests sacrificed for their own sins), (3) repeated (annual Day of Atonement), and (4) limited to one nation. Christ's priesthood is: (1) appointed directly by God 'after the order of Melchizedek,' (2) sinless, (3) once-for-all, and (4) for all nations. Aaron foreshadows; Christ fulfills.