Difference between revisions of "Aaron"

<p> '''Aaron''' (''âr'on'' or ''â'ron'' ). The name, if of Hebrew origin, means ''enlightened.'' According to Jerome, it means ''mountain of strength.'' The son of Amram and Jochebed, of the tribe of Levi He was three years older than his brother Moses. &nbsp;Exodus 6:20; &nbsp;Exodus 7:7. Aaron was noted for his eloquence, and was appointed by Jehovah to speak for Moses in the court of Pharaoh. &nbsp;Exodus 4:14-16. He aided Moses in leading the Hebrews out of Egypt; and was consecrated the first high priest of the Hebrew nation. &nbsp;Exodus 7:1-10; &nbsp;Exodus 28:1-43; &nbsp;Leviticus 8:1-36. He was a man of great devotion; but, from want of firmness, he sometimes fell into grievous sins. While Moses was absent in Mount Sinai receiving the law, Aaron weakly yielded to the people's demand to have some image of a deity for them to worship. The image he made was a golden calf, after the form of the Egyptian [[Apis]] or Mnevis. &nbsp;Exodus 32:1-35; &nbsp;Psalms 106:19-20. Aaron joined Miriam, his sister, in sedition against Moses, &nbsp;Numbers 12:1-12, and, with Moses, neglected to acknowledge the power of God at Kadesh. For this sin he was denied the privilege of entering the promised land. &nbsp;Numbers 20:12-24. While the Hebrews were encamped at Moserah, in the fortieth year after leaving Egypt, Aaron, at the divine command, ascended Mount Hor and died, at the age of 123 years. &nbsp;Numbers 20:25-29; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 10:6. The sons and descendants of Aaron served as priests at the sanctuary; while the other families of the tribe of Levi performed those religious duties which were of an inferior kind. &nbsp;Numbers 4:15-16; &nbsp;Numbers 4:24. Aaron is called the "saint of the Lord" with reference to his official character, &nbsp;Psalms 106:16, but, as the most superficial study of his life shows, he had many faults. Yet the people loved him, and the mourning over his death, which lasted 30 days, &nbsp;Numbers 20:28, was sincere. One of the fasts of later [[Judaism]] was held in his memory, on the first day of the fifth month, Ab, our July or August. </p> <p> Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, probably a prince of the tribe of Judah, and had four sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. &nbsp;Exodus 6:23; &nbsp;Numbers 1:7. The Jewish priesthood began in the family of Aaron and remained in its possession, though not uninterruptedly, in the line of Eleazar; it passed into the family of Ithamar, the brother of Eleazar, in the person of Eli; but, in consequence of the wickedness of Ell's sons, God declared that it should be taken from his family, &nbsp;1 Samuel 2:30, and this prophecy was fulfilled in the time of Solomon, who took the priesthood from Abiathar and restored it to Zadok, of the line of Eleazar. &nbsp;1 Kings 2:27. </p>

<p> '''Aaron.''' ''(a teacher,'' or ''lofty).'' The son of Amram and Jochebed, and the older brother of Moses and Miriam. &nbsp;Numbers 26:59; &nbsp;Numbers 33:39. [[(B.C.]] 1573). He was a Levite, and is first mentioned in &nbsp;Exodus 4:14. He was appointed by '''Jehovah''' to be the interpreter, &nbsp;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, &nbsp;Exodus 4:30; &nbsp;Exodus 7:2, but also the actual instrument of working most of the miracles of the Exodus. &nbsp;Exodus 7:19, etc. </p> <p> 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. &nbsp;Exodus 17:9. He is mentioned as dependent upon his brother and deriving all his authority from him. </p> <p> 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. &nbsp;Exodus 9:20. Aaron was not consecrated by Moses to the new office of the high priesthood. &nbsp;Exodus 29:9. </p> <p> 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''' ''.'' &nbsp;Numbers 20:10-12. </p> <p> Aaron's death seems to have followed very speedily. It took place on Mount Hor, after the transference of his robes and office to Eleazar. &nbsp;Numbers 20:28. This mount is still called the "Mountain of Aaron." ''See '' '''Hor''' ''.'' </p> <p> The wife of Aaron was Elisheba, &nbsp;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''' ''.'' </p>