Aaron (Hebrew origin: Uncertain meaning)
(Exodus 4:13) 13th century b.c.e.
Aaron, the first High Priest, was the founder and ancestor of the Israelite priesthood. He is first mentioned in the Bible when God, angry that Aaron's brother, Moses, was reluctant to accept the mission to free the Israelites from the Egyptian oppression, told him that Aaron was a good speaker and that he would be Moses's spokesman. Aaron's eloquent speeches to Pharaoh were reinforced by the miracles that he performed with his walking stick, changing it one time into a serpent and another into blossoms and almonds. Also, by stretching out his walking stick at the request of Moses, he brought on the first three plagues: blood, frogs, and lice; and, in cooperation with Moses, he produced the sixth plague, boils, and the eighth plague, locusts. It is significant that when he performed his wonders, it was not by virtue of any innate ability or individual initiative but only by divine command, mediated through Moses. Later, Aaron acted as deputy for Moses when his brother climbed Mount Sinai to receive the two stone tablets of the Law. During Moses' prolonged absence on the mountain, Aaron yielded to the pressure of the people and made with their jewelry a golden calf that became a cause of apostasy. Aaron never lived to see the Promised Land. He died on Mount Hor when he was 123 years old. Aaron was succeeded as High Priest by his son Eleazar.
Read more biographies from Who's Who in the Jewish Bible.
| ||||||||||
Your shopping cart is empty. |