| |
Easton's 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 ( Exodus 2:1 , 2:4 ; 7:7
). He married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab of the house of Judah ( Exodus
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 , 4:27 - 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 ( Exodus 7:1 , 7:2 ,
7:9 , 7:10 , 7:19 ). 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 ( Exodus 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
. Compare 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 , 10:2 ) 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)
Hitchcock's Dictionary of Bible Names
a teacher; lofty; mountain of strength
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(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 Israelites 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 Israel. ( 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. ( Deuteronomy 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 ) Aarons 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.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ar'-un, sometimes pronounced ar'on ('aharon--Septuagint Aaron, meaning uncertain:
Gesenius suggests "mountaineer"; Furst, "enlightened"; others give "rich," "fluent."
Cheyne mentions Redslob's "ingenious conjecture" of ha-'aron--"the ark"--with
its mythical, priestly significance, Encyclopedia Biblica under the word):
Family:
Probably eldest son of Amram (Exodus 6:20), and according to the uniform genealogical
lists (Exodus 6:16 - 20; 1 Chronicles 6:1 - 3), the fourth from Levi. This however
is not certainly fixed, since there are frequent omissions from the Hebrew lists
of names which are not prominent in the line of descent. For the corresponding
period from Levi to Aaron the Judah list has six names (Ruth 4:18 - 20 ; 1 Chronicles
2). Levi and his family were zealous, even to violence (Genesis 34:25 ; Exodus
32:26), for the national honor and religion, and Aaron no doubt inherited his
full portion of this spirit. His mother's name was Jochebed, who was also of the
Levitical family (Exodus 6:20). Miriam, his sister, was several years older, since
she was set to watch the novel cradle of the infant brother Moses, at whose birth
Aaron was three years old (Exodus 7:7).
Becomes Moses' Assistant:
When Moses fled from Egypt, Aaron remained to share the hardships of his people,
and possibly to render them some service; for we are told that Moses entreated
of God his brother's cooperation in his mission to Pharaoh and to Israel, and
that Aaron went out to meet his returning brother, as the time of deliverance
drew near (Exodus 4:27). While Moses, whose great gifts lay along other lines,
was slow of speech (Exodus 4:10), Aaron was a ready spokesman, and became his
brother's representative, being called his "mouth" (Exodus 4:16) and his "prophet"
(Exodus 7:1). After their meeting in the wilderness the two brothers returned
together to Egypt on the hazardous mission to which Yahweh had called them (Exodus
4:27 - 31). At first they appealed to their own nation, recalling the ancient
promises and declaring the imminent deliverance, Aaron being the spokesman. But
the heart of the people, hopeless by reason of the hard bondage and heavy with
the care of material things, did not incline to them. The two brothers then forced
the issue by appealing directly to Pharaoh himself, Aaron still speaking for his
brother (Exodus 6:10 - 13). He also performed, at Moses' direction, the miracles
which confounded Pharaoh and his magicians. With Hur, he held up Moses hands,
in order that the 'rod of God might be lifted up,' during the fight with Amalek
(Exodus 17:10 , 12).
An Elder:
Aaron next comes into prominence when at Sinai he is one of the elders and representatives
of his tribe to approach nearer to the Mount than the people in general were allowed
to do, and to see the manifested glory of God (Exodus 24:1 , 9 , 10). A few days
later, when Moses, attended by his "minister" Joshua, went up into the mountain,
Aaron exercised some kind of headship over the people in his absence. Despairing
of seeing again their leader, who had disappeared into the mystery of communion
with the invisible God, they appealed to Aaron to prepare them more tangible gods,
and to lead them back to Egypt (Exodus 32). Aaron never appears as the strong,
heroic character which his brother was; and here at Sinai he revealed his weaker
nature, yielding to the demands of the people and permitting the making of the
golden bullock. That he must however have yielded reluctantly, is evident from
the ready zeal of his tribesmen, whose leader he was, to stay and to avenge the
apostasy by rushing to arms and falling mightily upon the idolaters at the call
of Moses (Exodus 32:26 - 28).
High Priest:
In connection with the planning and erection of the tabernacle ("the Tent"), Aaron
and his sons being chosen for the official priesthood, elaborate and symbolical
vestments were prepared for them (Exodus 28); and after the erection and dedication
of the tabernacle, he and his sons were formally inducted into the sacred office
(Leviticus 8). It appears that Aaron alone was anointed with the holy oil (Leviticus
8:12), but his sons were included with him in the duty of caring for sacrificial
rites and things. They served in receiving and presenting the various offerings,
and could enter and serve in the first chamber of the tabernacle; but Aaron alone,
the high priest, the Mediator of the Old Covenant, could enter into the Holy of
Holies, and that only once a year, on the great Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:12
- 14).
Rebels Against Moses:
After the departure of Israel from Sinai, Aaron joined his sister Miriam in a
protest against the authority of Moses (Numbers 12), which they asserted to be
self-assumed. For this rebellion Miriam was smitten with leprosy, but was made
whole again, when, at the pleading of Aaron, Moses interceded with God for her.
The sacred office of Aaron, requiring physical, moral and ceremonial cleanness
of the strictest order, seems to have made him immune from this form of punishment.
Somewhat later (Numbers 16) he himself, along with Moses, became the object of
a revolt of his own tribe in conspiracy with leaders of Da and Reuben. This rebellion
was subdued and the authority of Moses and Aaron vindicated by the miraculous
overthrow of the rebels. As they were being destroyed by the plague, Aaron, at
Moses' command, rushed into their midst with the lighted censer, and the destruction
was stayed. The Divine will in choosing Aaron and his family to the priesthood
was then fully attested by the miraculous budding of his rod, when, together with
rods representing the other tribes, it was placed and left overnight in the sanctuary
(Numbers 17). See AARON'S
ROD.
Further History:
After this event Aaron does not come prominently into view until the time of his
death, near the close of the Wilderness period. Because of the impatience, or
unbelief, of Moses and Aaron at Meribah (Numbers 20:12), the two brothers are
prohibited from entering Canaan; and shortly after the last camp at Kadesh was
broken, as the people journeyed eastward to the plains of Moab, Aaron died on
Mount Hor. In three passages this event is recorded: the more detailed account
in Numbers 20, a second incidental record in the list of stations of the wanderings
in the wilderness (Numbers 33:38 , 39), and a third casual reference (Deuteronomy
10:6) in an address of Moses. These are not in the least contradictory or inharmonious.
The dramatic scene is fully presented in Numbers 20: Moses, Aaron and Eleazar
go up to Mount Hor in the people's sight; Aaron is divested of his robes of office,
which are formally put upon his eldest living son; Aaron dies before the Lord
in the Mount at the age of 123, and is given burial by his two mourning relatives,
who then return to the camp without the first and great high priest; when the
people understand that he is no more, they show both grief and love by thirty
days of mourning. The passage in Numbers 33 records the event of his death just
after the list of stations in the general vicinity of Mount Hor; while Moses in
Deuteronomy 10 states from which of these stations, namely, Moserah, that remarkable
funeral procession made its way to Mount Hor. In the records we find, not contradiction
and perplexity, but simplicity and unity. It is not within the view of this article
to present modern displacements and rearrangements of the Aaronic history; it
is concerned with the records as they are, and as they contain the faith of the
Old Testament writers in the origin in Aaron of their priestly order.
Priestly Succession:
Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, and sister of Nahshon, prince of
the tribe of Judah, who bore him four sons:
Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. The sacrilegious act and consequent judicial
death of Nadab and Abihu are recorded in Leviticus 10. Eleazar and Ithamar were
more pious and reverent; and from them descended the long line of priests to whom
was committed the ceremonial law of Israel, the succession changing from one branch
to the other with certain crises in the nation. At his death Aaron was succeeded
by his oldest living son, Eleazar (Numbers 20:28 ; Deuteronomy 10:6).
Edward Mack
Tags:
aaron, amram son, bible commentary, bible history, bible reference, bible study, define, jochebed son, levi daughter, miriam brother, moses brother, moses interpreter
Comments:
|
 |
|
