King James Bible Dictionary

The eldest son of Amram and Jochebed, a daughter of Levi (Exodus 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 Chronicles 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 (Exodus 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 (Exodus 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 (Exodus 32:4; Psalms 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 (Deuteronomy 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 (Leviticus 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 (Numbers 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 (Numbers 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 (Numbers 17:1-10). This rod was afterwards preserved in the tabernacle (Hebrews 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 (Numbers 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 (Numbers 20:23-29. Comp. Deuteronomy 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 (Leviticus 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 Chronicles 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" (Hebrews 6:20). (See MOSES.)

a teacher; lofty; mountain of strength

Lineage of
Exodus 6:16-20; Joshua 21:4; Joshua 21:10; 1 Chronicles 6:2-3; 1 Chronicles 23:13

Marriage of
Exodus 6:23

Children of
Exodus 6:23; Exodus 6:25; 1 Chronicles 6:3; 1 Chronicles 24:1-2

Descendants of
Exodus 6:23; Exodus 6:25; 1 Chronicles 6:3-15; 1 Chronicles 6:50-53; 1 Chronicles 13:24

Meets Moses in the wilderness and is made spokesman for Moses
Exodus 4:14-16; Exodus 4:27-31; Exodus 7:1-2

Inspiration of
Exodus 12:1; Leviticus 10:8; Leviticus 11:1; Leviticus 13:1; Leviticus 15:1; Numbers 2:1; Numbers 4:1; Numbers 4:17; Numbers 18:1; Numbers 19:1; Numbers 20:12

Commissioned as a deliverer of Israel
Exodus 6:13; Exodus 6:26-27; Joshua 24:5; 1 Samuel 12:8; Psalms 77:20; Psalms 105:26; Micah 6:4

Summoned to Sinai with Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders
Exodus 19:24; Exodus 24:1; Exodus 24:9-10

Priesthood of
Exodus 28:1; Exodus 29:9; Numbers 17:1-13; Numbers 18:1; Psalms 99:6; Hebrews 5:4

Consecration of, to the priesthood
Hebrews 2:28; Hebrews 3:8

Enters upon the priestly office
Hebrews 3:9
High Priest

Descendants of, ordained priests forever
Exodus 28:40-43; Exodus 29:9; Numbers 3:3; Numbers 18:1; 1 Chronicles 23:13; 2 Chronicles 26:18

Judges Israel in the absence of Moses
Exodus 24:14

Makes the golden calf
Exodus 2:32; Acts 7:40; Deuteronomy 9:20-21

Rod of, buds
Numbers 17:1-13; Hebrews 9:4

Rod of, preserved
Numbers 17:1-13; Hebrews 9:4

Murmured against, by the people
Exodus 5:20-21; Exodus 16:2-10; Numbers 14:2-5; Numbers 14:10; Numbers 16:3-11; Numbers 16:41; Numbers 20:2; Psalms 106:16

Places pot of manna in the ark
Exodus 16:34

With Hur supports the hands of Moses during battle
Exodus 17:12

His benedictions upon the people
Leviticus 9:22; Numbers 6:23

Forbidden to mourn the death of his sons, Nadab and Abihu
Leviticus 10:6; Leviticus 10:19

Intercedes for Miriam
Numbers 12:11-12

Stays the plague by priestly intercession
Numbers 16:46-48

Jealous of Moses
Numbers 12:1

His presumption, when the rock is smitten
Numbers 20:10-12

Not permitted to enter Canaan
Numbers 20:12; Numbers 20:23-29

Age of, at death
Exodus 7:7; Numbers 33:38-39

Death and burial of
Numbers 20:27-28; Deuteronomy 10:6; Deuteronomy 32:50

Character of
Psalms 106:16

(a teacher, or lofty), the son of Amram and Jochebed, and the older brother of Moses and Miriam. (Numbers 26:59; 33:39) (B.C. 1573.) He was a Levite, and is first mentioned in (Exodus 4:14) He was appointed by Jehovah to be the interpreter, (Exodus 4:16) of his brother Moses, who was "slow of speech;" and accordingly he was not only the organ of communication with the Isr'lites and with Pharaoh, (Exodus 4:30; 7:2) but also the actual instrument of working most of the miracles of the Exodus. (Exodus 7:19) etc. On the way to Mount Sinai, during the battle with Amalek, Aaron with Hur stayed up the weary hands of Moses when they were lifted up for the victory of Isr'l. (Exodus 17:9) He is mentioned as dependent upon his brother and deriving all his authority from him. Left, on Moses' departure into Sinai, to guide the people, Aaron is tried for a moment on his own responsibility, and he fails from a weak inability to withstand the demand of the people for visible "gods to go before them," by making an image of Jehovah, in the well-known form of Egyptian idolatry (Apis or Mnevis). He repented of his sin, and Moses gained forgiveness for him. (9:20) Aaron was not consecrated by Moses to the new office of the high priesthood. (Exodus 29:9) From this time the history of Aaron is almost entirely that of the priesthood, and its chief feature is the great rebellion of Korah and the Levites. Leaning, as he seems to have done, wholly on Moses, it is not strange that he should have shared his sin at Meribah and its punishment. See MOSES. (Numbers 20:10-12) Aaron's death seems to have followed very speedily. It took place on Mount Hor, after the transference of his robes and office to Eleazar. (Numbers 20:28) This mount is still called the "Mountain of Aaron." See HOR. The wife of Aaron was Elisheba, (Exodus 6:23) and the two sons who survived him, Eleazar and Ithamar. The high priesthood descended to the former, and to his descendants until the time of Eli, who, although of the house of Ithamar, received the high priesthood and transmitted it to his children; with them it continued till the accession of Solomon, who took it from Abiathar and restored it to Zadok (of the house of Eleazar). See ABIATHAR.

AARON'IC, adjective Pertaining to Aaron, the Jewish High Priest, or to the priesthood of which he was the head.

The descendants of Aaron, and therefore priests. Jehoiada, the father of Benaiah, led 3,700 Aaronites as "fighting men" to the support of David at Hebron (1 Chronicles 12:27). Eleazar (Numbers 3:32), and at a later period Zadok (1 Chronicles 27:17), was their chief.

(1 Chronicles 12:27) priests of the family of Aaron.