Aaron

the brother of Moses

Who was Aaron?

Moses’ older brother. He spoke for Moses to the people and to Pharaoh. Exodus 7:7; Exodus 4:14-16; Exodus 7:1-2
He was the first priest of Israel: Moses anointed him with oil. Exodus 28:1; Leviticus 8:12
When Moses was slow to come down from the mountain, the people asked him for a god, and Aaron made a golden calf. Exodus 32:1-4

The name: We do not know what his name means. Catholic Encyclopedia (1907), “Aaron”
Also called: The holy one of the Lord Psalms 106:16
From: Egypt. He was from the tribe of Levi, the son of Amram and Jochebed Exodus 6:16-20; Numbers 26:59
Occupation: Priest: the first of the priests of Israel Exodus 28:1; Leviticus 8:12
Feast day: July 1: Saint Aaron

What the Bible says

Exodus 7:7; Exodus 4:14-16; Exodus 7:1-2

And Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three, when they spoke to Pharao.

Exodus 28:1; Leviticus 8:12

Take unto thee also Aaron thy brother with his sons, from among the children of Israel, that they may minister to me in the priest’s office: Aaron, Nadab, and Abiu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

Exodus 32:1-4

¹And the people seeing that Moses delayed to come down from the mount, gathering together against Aaron, said: Arise, make us gods, that may go before us: for as to this Moses, the man that brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has befallen him. ²And Aaron said to them: Take the golden earrings from the ears of your wives, and your sons and daughters, and bring them to me. ³And the people did what he had commanded, bringing the earrings to Aaron. ⁴And when he had received them, he fashioned them by founders’ work, and made of them a molten calf. And they said: These are thy gods, O Israel, that have brought thee out of the land of Egypt.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Aaron

Before Jesus. He was the older brother of Moses, by three years. Exodus 7:7
With Jesus. God sent him into the desert to meet Moses. Aaron met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. Exodus 4:27
With Jesus. He spoke for Moses: he told the people what God had said and performed the signs. Exodus 4:16, 30
With Jesus. Before Pharaoh, his staff turned into a snake and swallowed the staffs of the magicians. Exodus 7:10-12
With Jesus. In a battle against Amalek, he and Hur held up Moses’ arms until sunset. Exodus 17:10-12
With Jesus. While Moses was on the mountain, the people asked Aaron for a god, and Aaron made a golden calf. Exodus 32:1-4
With Jesus. Moses dressed him as a priest and poured oil on his head. Afterward, Aaron blessed the people. Leviticus 8:7-12; Leviticus 9:22
Afterward. He died on Mount Hor, at the age of one hundred and twenty-three. The people mourned him for thirty days. Numbers 20:28-29; Numbers 33:39

Words of Aaron

“Take the golden earrings from the ears of your wives, and your sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” Exodus 32:2

When the people asked him to make them gods.

“Tomorrow is the solemnity of the Lord.” Exodus 32:5

When he built an altar in front of the calf.

“And I said to them: Which of you hath any gold? and they took and brought it to me: and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.” Exodus 32:24

When Moses asked him why he had led the people into that sin.

“I beseech thee, my lord, lay not upon us this sin, which we have foolishly committed:” Numbers 12:11

When his sister was struck with leprosy, after the two of them had spoken against Moses.

What they were like

He spoke well: that is what God told Moses. Exodus 4:14
He stood beside Moses before Pharaoh, in the desert and on the mountain. Exodus 5:1; Exodus 17:10; Exodus 24:9
When his sons Nadab and Abihu died, Aaron remained silent. Leviticus 10:1-3

The greatest thing they did

He was the first priest of Israel; his descendants were priests after him. Exodus 28:1; Exodus 29:9
During a plague he ran with his censer into the middle of the people. He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague stopped. Numbers 17:11-13

Not to be confused with

Moses: Moses was his younger brother. God spoke to Moses, and Aaron spoke for Moses to the people and to Pharaoh. Exodus 7:7; Exodus 4:15-16; Exodus 7:1-2
Elizabeth: Aaron’s wife was named Elisheba, and the Spanish Bible of 1836 calls her Elizabeth. She is not Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist: that Elizabeth lived many centuries later and was a descendant of Aaron. Exodus 6:23; Luke 1:5
His sister is named Miriam. The Spanish Bible of 1836 calls her “Mary, the sister of Aaron,” but she is not the mother of Jesus. Exodus 15:20; Numbers 26:59

In the Church today

Feast day: July 1, Saint Aaron (commemoration (not on the General Roman Calendar or the U.S. calendar)). Roman Martyrology (2004)

In art, recognized by: The staff that blossomed and bore almonds From Nm 17, 23 and Heb 9, 4; this is how Christian art shows him; The priestly vestments, with the breastpiece of twelve stones From Ex 28, 15-21; this is how Christian art shows him

What people ask

Why did Aaron make the golden calf?

The people asked him to, because Moses was taking a long time to come down from the mountain. The Bible does not say what Aaron was thinking. Exodus 32:1-4

Was he the first high priest?

Yes. God chose him as priest, and the Letter to the Hebrews gives him as an example of a high priest called by God. Exodus 28:1; Hebrews 5:1-4

Did Aaron enter the promised land?

No. He died on Mount Hor, before they arrived. Moses did not enter either. Numbers 20:24-28; Deuteronomy 34:4-5

What is the blessing of Aaron?

They are the words God taught Aaron and his sons to bless the people. They begin: “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee.” Numbers 6:22-24

Was John the Baptist a descendant of Aaron?

Yes, through his mother: Elizabeth was of the line of Aaron. Luke 1:5

Daily life As priest, he wore on his chest the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. Exodus 28:21, 29 Once a year he went into the holiest place to…

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Who Aaron is connected to

Moses · brothers
Jesus · high priest
Elizabeth · his descendant
Ezra · descendant
Miriam · brother and sister
The Pharaoh of the Exodus · the staff before Pharaoh

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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