The First High Priest and Brother of the Lawgiver
Aaron (Hebrew: אַהֲרֹן, Aharon) was the elder brother of Moses and the first divinely appointed High Priest of Israel. His life story, chronicled primarily in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, makes him a central figure in the establishment of the Mosaic Covenant, the system of worship, and the formal priesthood that prefigured the ministry of Christ.
The Call and the Commission
Aaron’s role in the Exodus narrative begins when God calls Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt. Moses, citing a speech impediment, resisted the call, leading God to assign Aaron as his spokesman and partner.
| Title / Role | Significance in the Exodus |
| Spokesman | He served as Moses’ “mouth” (prophet) to Pharaoh, delivering the demands of God. |
| Rod of God | His rod performed the first miracles, including becoming a serpent and initiating the plagues upon Egypt. |
| Partner in Miracles | He worked alongside Moses in delivering the ten plagues, demonstrating the power of God to the Egyptians. |
The Foundation of the Priesthood
Aaron’s most enduring legacy is the establishment of the Aaronic Priesthood. God consecrated Aaron and his sons to minister perpetually before the Lord in the Tabernacle. This sacred office was marked by specific, elaborate holy garments and rituals of purification.
The Office of the High Priest
The High Priest was the only individual permitted to enter the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). His primary function was to mediate between a holy God and a sinful nation, acting as the living representation of the people before God.
| Element | Symbolism and Function |
| Holy Garments | Signified the holiness required for ministry; included a golden crown with “HOLINESS TO THE LORD.” |
| The Breastplate | Contained twelve precious stones, representing the twelve tribes, signifying the High Priest carried the people on his heart before God. |
| Urim and Thummim | Contained within the breastplate; used by the High Priest to discern God’s will for the nation. |
Failures and Divine Vindication
Aaron was a man of great spiritual authority, yet he was also subject to human weakness. His most noted failure occurred at Mount Sinai, when, under pressure from the people, he fashioned the Golden Calf (Exodus 32), an act of profound idolatry.
Despite this major transgression, God’s promise to establish the priesthood through his line remained. Later, when his authority was challenged by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (Numbers 16), God miraculously confirmed Aaron’s divine appointment by causing Aaron’s rod to bud (Numbers 17:8), thereby vindicating his unique, priestly authority.
The Final Rest
Aaron died on Mount Hor at the age of 123, just before Israel entered the promised land. By divine command, Moses stripped Aaron of his sacred garments and placed them upon his son, Eleazar, thus ensuring the continuation of the priesthood line.
Aaron’s ministry serves as a powerful shadow of Christ, who is the Great High Priest, offering a perfect, once-for-all atonement not in an earthly tabernacle, but in the heavenly one.