Old Testament · character
Aaron
Moses' mouth and elder brother — Israel's first high priest.
Aaron was Moses' elder brother, who spoke before Pharaoh on behalf of the slow-of-speech Moses and was appointed Israel's first high priest.
Timeline at a glance
- The CallAs the spokesman of Moses (Exodus 4)
- The ExodusStanding together before Pharaoh (Exodus 7)
- OrdinationThe first high priest (Leviticus 8)
- The Golden CalfA failure in the wilderness (Exodus 32)
The Mouth of Moses
When God called Moses, Moses declined, saying, "I am not good with words," and God appointed his brother Aaron as his spokesman (Exodus 4). The two brothers stood together before Pharaoh.
The First High Priest
When the tabernacle was set up, Aaron and his sons were ordained as priests. Aaron became the first high priest who went before God on behalf of the people, serving as a mediator of reconciliation.
The Failure of the Golden Calf
While Moses lingered long on Mount Sinai, Aaron gave in to the people's demand and committed the grave wrong of making a golden calf (Exodus 32) — a scene that shows both a leader's weakness and his restoration.
Related verses
- Exodus 4:14"What about your brother, Aaron the Levite?" — appointed as a fellow worker.
- Numbers 6:24The blessing of Aaron — "The Lord bless you and keep you."
Frequently asked questions
In what way is Aaron important?
As Israel's first high priest, he became the starting point of the sacrificial system that mediated between God and the people. The New Testament sees this high priesthood as completed in Jesus (Hebrews).
What was the sign of Aaron's staff that budded?
When the people disputed over the priesthood, God had the staff of each tribal leader placed in the tabernacle, and only Aaron's staff sprouted, blossomed, and bore fruit (Numbers 17). It was a sign confirming that Aaron's priesthood was chosen by God.
What is the blessing of Aaron?
It is the priestly blessing in Numbers 6 that begins, "The Lord bless you and keep you." It is still widely used today as the closing benediction in worship.