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Aaron.
Aaron is Moses's older brother and the first high priest of Israel. He serves as Moses's spokesman before Pharaoh, then is consecrated to the priesthood with elaborate ceremonies in Leviticus. His failure with the golden calf at Sinai (Exodus 32) is the dark moment of his story; his blessing in Numbers 6 ("the LORD bless you and keep you") is its most quoted high point. His descendants — the Aaronic priesthood — minister at the tabernacle and later the temple until the end of the Old Testament era.
Timeline
- Spokesman for Moses before Pharaoh (Exodus 4–11)
- Made the golden calf at Sinai (Exodus 32)
- Consecrated as first high priest (Leviticus 8)
- Sons Nadab and Abihu killed for unauthorised fire (Leviticus 10)
- Aaron's rod that budded (Numbers 17)
- Died on Mount Hor (Numbers 20)
Key verses
Why Aaron matters
Aaron founds the priesthood that will define Israel's worship for fifteen centuries. The book of Hebrews's argument that Christ is a "great high priest" depends on the contrast with Aaron: Aaron offered sacrifices that had to be repeated; Christ offered one sacrifice for all time. The Aaronic blessing remains the most-prayed blessing in the church to this day.
Related tools
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