Who Was Aaron in the Bible? Brother of Moses and Israel's First High Priest

Aaron was the older brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel (Exodus 7:7; 28:1). God appointed him to speak for Moses before the Israelites and before Pharaoh, and he took part in the signs and plagues in Egypt (Exodus 4:14-16; 7:1-2, 7:19-20). He and his sons were ordained as priests at Mount Sinai, and his descendants served as Israel's priests from then on (Leviticus 8:1-36; Numbers 3:10). He is also remembered for making the golden calf while Moses was on the mountain (Exodus 32:1-6). He died on Mount Hor at age 123 (Numbers 33:39).

Quick Facts About Aaron

Fact	Details
Name meaning	Uncertain; the origin of the name is not explained in the Bible
Testament	Old Testament (also mentioned in the New Testament)
Key books	Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers; Hebrews 5 and 7
Time period	The exodus and wilderness years, about 1446-1406 BC (traditional dating)
Family	Son of Amram and Jochebed; brother of Moses and Miriam; husband of Elisheba; father of Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar (Exodus 6:20, 6:23)
Known for	Speaking for Moses, serving as first high priest, the golden calf, and his staff that budded

Who Was Aaron in the Bible? His Family

Aaron was from the tribe of Levi. His father Amram married Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses (Exodus 6:20). Aaron was three years older than Moses (Exodus 7:7). Their sister Miriam is called Aaron's sister in Exodus 15:20.

Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon. They had four sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar (Exodus 6:23).

Spokesman for Moses

When God called Moses at the burning bush, Moses said he was not eloquent and asked God to send someone else (Exodus 4:10-13). The Lord answered that Aaron the Levite could speak well and was already on his way to meet Moses. Aaron would speak to the people for Moses, and it would be as if he were Moses' mouth (Exodus 4:14-16).

God sent Aaron into the wilderness, and he met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him (Exodus 4:27). Together they gathered the elders of Israel. Aaron told them everything the Lord had said and performed the signs, and the people believed and worshiped (Exodus 4:29-31).

Before Pharaoh

The Lord told Moses that Aaron would be his prophet, speaking to Pharaoh on his behalf (Exodus 7:1-2). Moses was eighty and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:7).

Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and it became a snake. Pharaoh's magicians did the same with their secret arts, but Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs (Exodus 7:10-12). Aaron also stretched out his staff for the first plagues: the Nile turning to blood, the frogs, and the gnats (Exodus 7:19-20; 8:5-6, 8:16-17).

In the Wilderness

When the Amalekites attacked Israel at Rephidim, Joshua led the fighting while Moses stood on a hill with the staff of God. As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel was winning. When his hands grew tired, Aaron and Hur held them up, one on each side, until sunset (Exodus 17:8-13).

At Mount Sinai, Aaron, his sons Nadab and Abihu, and seventy elders went up with Moses and saw the God of Israel (Exodus 24:1, 24:9-11).

The Golden Calf

Moses stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights (Exodus 24:18). The people grew impatient and asked Aaron to make them gods to go before them. Aaron collected their gold earrings and made an idol cast in the shape of a calf (Exodus 32:1-4). He built an altar in front of it and announced a festival to the Lord the next day. The people sacrificed, ate, drank and indulged in revelry (Exodus 32:5-6).

When Moses came down and confronted him, Aaron blamed the people, saying they were prone to evil (Exodus 32:21-22). He described the calf's origin this way:

"Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!" (Exodus 32:24)

The text says Aaron had let the people get out of control (Exodus 32:25). All the Levites rallied to Moses, and the Lord struck the people with a plague because of the calf Aaron had made (Exodus 32:26, 32:35). Moses later recalled that the Lord's anger against Aaron was great enough to destroy him, and that Moses interceded for him as well (Deuteronomy 9:20).

Israel's First High Priest

Chosen and Ordained

God told Moses to set apart Aaron and his sons to serve as priests (Exodus 28:1). Aaron's garments included an ephod with two onyx stones bearing the names of Israel's tribes, and a breastpiece with twelve stones, so he would carry the names of the sons of Israel over his heart before the Lord (Exodus 28:9-12, 28:21, 28:29). The Urim and Thummim were placed in the breastpiece (Exodus 28:30), and a gold plate on his turban was engraved "HOLY TO THE LORD" (Exodus 28:36).

Moses ordained Aaron and his sons over seven days, as recorded in Leviticus 8. On the eighth day Aaron offered sacrifices and blessed the people. Fire came out from the Lord and consumed the offering on the altar, and the people shouted for joy and fell facedown (Leviticus 9:1, 9:22-24).

The Priestly Blessing and the Day of Atonement

The Lord gave Aaron and his sons words for blessing Israel, asking that the Lord would bless and keep them, make His face shine on them, be gracious to them, and give them peace (Numbers 6:22-27). Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, Aaron entered the Most Holy Place to make atonement for himself, his household, and the whole community (Leviticus 16:2, 16:17, 16:34). These laws are recorded in Leviticus, the third of the books of the Bible.

The Death of Nadab and Abihu

Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to His command. Fire came out from the Lord and consumed them (Leviticus 10:1-2). When Moses told Aaron that the Lord would be proved holy among those who approach Him, Aaron remained silent (Leviticus 10:3).

Challenges to Aaron's Priesthood

Aaron and Miriam Oppose Moses

Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of his Cushite wife, and they asked whether the Lord had spoken only through Moses (Numbers 12:1-2). The Lord defended Moses, and Miriam's skin became leprous. Aaron pleaded with Moses not to hold their sin against them, and Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days (Numbers 12:10-15).

Korah's Rebellion

Korah, Dathan, Abiram and 250 leaders challenged Moses and Aaron, claiming the whole community was holy (Numbers 16:1-3). After the rebels died, the people grumbled, and a plague broke out. Aaron ran among the assembly with his censer, made atonement, and stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped. Even so, 14,700 people died (Numbers 16:46-50).

The Staff That Budded

To end the grumbling, God told Moses to collect twelve staffs, one from the leader of each tribe, with Aaron's name on the staff of Levi (Numbers 17:1-3). The next day Aaron's staff had sprouted, budded, blossomed and produced almonds (Numbers 17:8). It was kept in front of the ark as a sign to the rebellious (Numbers 17:10).

Aaron's Death

At Meribah, Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it as God commanded. The Lord said that Moses and Aaron had not trusted Him enough to honor Him as holy, and neither would bring the people into the land (Numbers 20:8-12).

At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, Moses removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar, and Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Israel mourned him for thirty days (Numbers 20:22-29). He died on the first day of the fifth month in the fortieth year after the exodus, at 123 years old (Numbers 33:38-39).

Aaron in the Rest of Scripture

A psalm of David compares the unity of God's people to precious oil running down on Aaron's beard (Psalm 133:1-2). The scribe Ezra traced his descent to Aaron the chief priest (Ezra 7:1-5). In the New Testament, Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, was a descendant of Aaron (Luke 1:5).

The book of Hebrews uses Aaron to explain the priesthood of Christ:

"And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was." (Hebrews 5:4)

Hebrews also says Jesus is a priest in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron (Hebrews 7:11).

Key Lessons From Aaron's Life

• God supplies what His servants lack. Aaron was given to Moses as a spokesman (Exodus 4:14-16).
• Leaders can give in to pressure. Aaron made the calf when the people demanded it (Exodus 32:1-4).
• God's holiness is serious. Nadab and Abihu died for offering unauthorized fire (Leviticus 10:1-3).
• The priesthood is God's appointment. The staff that budded confirmed Aaron's calling (Numbers 17:5, 17:8; Hebrews 5:4).

Where Aaron Appears in the Bible

• Exodus 4-12: Spokesman for Moses and the plagues in Egypt
• Exodus 17; 24; 28-29; 32: Rephidim, Sinai, the priestly garments, and the golden calf
• Leviticus 8-10; 16: Ordination, the death of Nadab and Abihu, the Day of Atonement
• Numbers 12; 16-17; 20: Opposition to Moses, Korah's rebellion, the budding staff, and his death
• Psalm 99:6; 133:2; Micah 6:4: Remembered in the Psalms and Prophets
• Luke 1:5; Acts 7:40; Hebrews 5:4; 7:11; 9:4: New Testament references

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Aaron in the Bible?

Aaron was the older brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel (Exodus 7:7; 28:1). He spoke for Moses before Pharaoh and served as priest during the wilderness journey.

Why did Aaron make the golden calf?

While Moses was on Mount Sinai, the people asked Aaron to make gods to go before them, and he made a calf from their gold earrings (Exodus 32:1-4). When questioned, he blamed the people (Exodus 32:22-24).

How old was Aaron when he died?

Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor (Numbers 33:39). His son Eleazar succeeded him as high priest (Numbers 20:28).

Did Aaron enter the Promised Land?

No. Because of what happened at Meribah, God said Moses and Aaron would not bring the people into the land (Numbers 20:12). Aaron died on Mount Hor before Israel crossed the Jordan (Numbers 20:28).