Aaron

In the book of Exodus in the Old Testament, we find the story of the Ten Plagues sent by God against the Egyptians for the deliverance of the Jewish people. God chose to send Moses as His spokesman before the Pharaoh. When Moses objected however, God chose another man to go with him: Aaron, brother of Moses. Read on to discover who Aaron was and some biblical passages presenting important events from his life.

Who is Aaron in the Bible?

Aaron, brother of Moses

Aaron, like Moses, was the son of Amram and Yocheved. He also has an older sister named Miriam. The Bible tells us that Aaron and Moses were born three years apart: “Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.” (Exodus 7:7). When God asked Moses to go and speak to the people and they objected, saying that he did not know how to speak, the Lord ordered him to pass his words on to Aaron, who would speak for him. And thus Aaron became Moses’s spokesman to the people.

Aaron, High Priest

In the book of the Leviticus, we see that after the construction of the Tabernacle, Aaron and his sons were chosen by God to do service there. Aaron thus became the first high priest established in the house of God. It is written: “He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.” (Leviticus 8:12)

the Sons of Aaron

Aaron had 4 sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. They were all anointed to serve in the Tabernacle with their father. However, Nadab and Abihu made a grave mistake: they brought a foreign fire into the house of God. This profane act cost them their lives. So it was Aaron’s third son, Eleazar, who succeeded his father as a high priest.

Important Episodes from the Life of Aaron

Moses and Aaron

“Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, ‘What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do.” (Exodus 4:14-15)

Aaron, spokesman for Moses

“... and Aaron told them everything the Lord had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the people.” (Exodus 4:30)

Aaron’s Staff: A Tool for Miracles in Egypt

"They did this, and when Aaron stretched out his hand with the staff and struck the dust of the ground, gnats came on people and animals. All the dust throughout the land of Egypt became gnats.” (Exodus 8:17)

Aaron and Hur

When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.” (Exodus 17:12-13)

Aaron and The Golden Calf

“Do not be angry, my lord,’ Aaron answered. ‘You know how prone these people are to evil. They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’ So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!” (Exodus 32:22-24)

The Sons of Aaron

“The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.” (...) The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.” (Numbers 17:20-23)

The foreign fire in the house of God

“Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.” (Leviticus 10:1-2)