Aaron was the son of Amram and Jochebed, the brother of Moses and Miriam. He was the first priest of the people of Israel. He was appointed by God to be a spokesman for Moses when Moses went before the Pharaoh of Egypt to demand that Pharaoh would release the people of Israel from slavery. When facing Pharaoh, it was Aaron who threw his rod before Pharaoh, which turned into a snake. He also assisted Moses in declaring various judgments on Pharaoh and the Egyptian people until finally the Pharaoh conceded to the demand.
Aaron was also present at Sinai when Moses received the Ten Commandments, but he also conceded to the creation of the Golden Calf by the Israelites during the time that Moses was on the mountain receiving the law of God.
Aaron was important for the development of the priesthood in Israel, and had two sons who died, and Eleazar and Ithamar succeeded him as priests. After his death, he was buried on Mt. Hor.
The preceding information is based on Herbert Lockyer, All the Men of the Bible, (Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI, 1958) and All the Women of the Bible (Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI, 1967), Who's Who in the Bible (Bonanza Books, New York, 1981), and Biographies of Bible Characters, People and Characters in the Bible.
Biography
| Hershel Wayne House
Aaron was the son of Amram and Jochebed, the brother of Moses and Miriam, and the first priest of Israel. God appointed Aaron to be Moses' spokesman in his audiences with the unnamed Pharaoh of Exodus. As a symbol of his office, Aaron received a magical rod. He turned the rod into a snake - the first in a series of signs, by which he and Moses hoped to persuade Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave Egypt. Aaron also used the rod to call down three of the plagues that followed this first sign (polluting the Nile, frogs and gnats). God also caused the rod to blossom and bear ripe almonds, as a sign that Aaron's descendants would inherit the priesthood.
God summoned Aaron to be present when Moses received the Ten Commandments. But Aaron did not stay on Sinai. Instead he agreed to oversee the casting of an idol (a golden calf) for the Israelites who had rebelled against the authority of the absent Moses.
Aaron was generally a supporter of Moses, but took him to task for his marrying a Cushite wife. For this God rebuked Aaron (and Miriam). His role as priest was critical when he made atonement for the Israelites and stayed the plague that had followed the rebellion of Dathan and Abiram. Exodus and Leviticus give a detailed account of the vestments and duties of Aaron and of his sons.
Aaron's elder sons, Nadab and Abihu, died early but the younger pair, Eleazar and Ithamar, succeeded him in the priesthood. When Aaron was a hundred and twenty three, God instructed him to go up onto Mt. Hor, where he died. Aaron figures prominently in Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy and Numbers, and is named in other books of both Old and New Testaments.
1On the day that Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, and had anointed it and sanctified it with all its furniture, and the altar with all its vessels, and had anointed and sanctified them; 2the princes of Israel, the heads of their fathers’ houses, gave offerings. These were the princes of the tribes. These are they who were over those who were counted; 3and they brought their offering before Yahweh, six covered wagons and twelve oxen; a wagon for every two of the princes, and for each one an ox. They presented them before the tabernacle. 4Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 5“Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the service of the Tent of Meeting; and you shall give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service.”
6Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites. 7He gave two wagons and four oxen to the sons of Gershon, according to their service. 8He gave four wagons and eight oxen to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 9But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because the service of the sanctuary belonged to them; they carried it on their shoulders.
10The princes gave offerings for the dedication of the altar in the day that it was anointed. The princes gave their offerings before the altar.
11Yahweh said to Moses, “They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedication of the altar.”
12He who offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah, 13and his offering was:
one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels,
one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
14one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
15one young bull,
one ram,
one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
16one male goat for a sin offering;
17and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
18On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, gave his offering. 19He offered for his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels,
one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
20one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
21one young bull,
one ram,
one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
22one male goat for a sin offering;
23and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar.
24On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun, 25gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was a hundred and thirty shekels,
one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
26one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
27one young bull,
one ram,
one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
28one male goat for a sin offering;
29and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.
30On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben, 31gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels,
one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
32one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
33one young bull,
one ram,
one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
34one male goat for a sin offering;
35and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.
36On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon, 37gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels,
one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
38one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
39one young bull,
one ram,
one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
40one male goat for a sin offering;
41and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old: this was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
42On the sixth day, Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, 43gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels,
one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
44one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
45one young bull,
one ram,
one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
46one male goat for a sin offering;
47and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
48On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, 49gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels,
one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
50one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
51one young bull,
one ram,
one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
52one male goat for a sin offering;
53and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.
54On the eighth day Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh, 55gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels,
one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
56one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
57one young bull,
one ram,
one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
58one male goat for a sin offering;
59and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
60On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, 61gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels,
one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
62one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
63one young bull,
one ram,
one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
64one male goat for a sin offering;
65and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.
66On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, 67gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels,
one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
68one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
69one young bull,
one ram,
one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
70one male goat for a sin offering;
71and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
72On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ochran, prince of the children of Asher, 73gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels,
one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
74one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
75one young bull,
one ram,
one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
76one male goat for a sin offering;
77and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ochran.
78On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, 79gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels,
one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
80one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
81one young bull,
one ram,
one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
82one male goat for a sin offering;
83and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.
84This was the dedication offering of the altar, on the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, twelve golden ladles; 85each silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and each bowl seventy; all the silver of the vessels two thousand four hundred shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; 86the twelve golden ladles, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; all the gold of the ladles weighed one hundred twenty shekels; 87all the cattle for the burnt offering twelve bulls, the rams twelve, the male lambs a year old twelve, and their meal offering; and twelve male goats for a sin offering; 88and all the cattle for the sacrifice of peace offerings: twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty male lambs a year old. This was the dedication offering of the altar, after it was anointed.
89When Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with Yahweh, he heard his voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim; and he spoke to him.