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Aaron, the brother of Moses and Miriam, was a leader of the Israelites during the Exodus and in the wilderness. He was appointed high priest, and the priestly lineage continued through him and his sons.
Notable Sources
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The Voice Behind the Exodus
TANAKH
Aaron, Moses’s brother, becomes Moses’s right-hand man, accompanies him in his confrontation with Pharaoh and even speaks on his behalf. In the book of Exodus, God responds to Moses’s reluctance to redeem the Israelites by offering him Aaron’s help.
Aaron the Prophet
TANAKH
Like his brother, Moses, Aaron too is responsible for communicating God’s message. The book of Exodus describes Aaron as a prophet in his own right, articulating the divine message, channeled through Moses, to those who are unprepared to hear it.
Aaron, the Once and Future Priest
TALMUD
The Israelites are commanded to give a portion of their agricultural yield to Aaron — but Aaron does not survive long enough to see the Israelites enter the land of Israel. The Babylonian Talmud in tractate Sanhedrin notes this apparent paradox and offers several creative solutions.
The First High Priest
TANAKH
After the exodus from Egypt, Aaron takes on the role of high priest, and his descendants become the priestly class of the Israelites. The book of Numbers details the role that Aaron and his descendants will play in the ritual life of the Temple.
The Atonement of Aaron
COMMENTARY
The book of Exodus recounts that Aaron played an active role in the Israelites’ sin of the golden calf. Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar, in his 19th-century commentary on the Torah, connects Aaron’s role in that incident with his future role as the high priest, tasked with bringing atonement on behalf of the Israelites.
Pursuer of Peace
TALMUD
Jewish tradition views Aaron as a seeker of peace and reconciliation. Avot DeRabbi Natan, a companion volume to Pirkei Avot, offers examples of Aaron’s attempts to resolve conflicts and pursue peace among his fellow Israelites.
Unwavering Faith Amidst Adversity
JEWISH THOUGHT
The example of Aaron's unwavering faith and humility, even in the face of personal loss, offers a powerful lesson in resilience and acceptance of God’s will. In Duties of the Heart, Bachya ibn Pekuda’s ethical treatise, he highlight’s Aaron’s ability to maintain calm and accept the sudden deaths of his sons.
A Watchful Older Brother
COMMENTARY
When baby Moses is cast into the Nile, the Torah notes that his sister Miriam watches over him, but Aaron seems not to be mentioned. In his commentary on the Torah, the medieval Spanish scholar Jacob ben Asher argues that the Torah alludes to Aaron as well, albeit cryptically.
Aaron’s Miraculous Staff
MIDRASH
Aaron’s staff features prominently throughout the Torah, both in the story of the Exodus and as part of Aaron’s service as high priest. Bamidbar Rabbah, an eleventh-century midrashic collection, suggests that the staff has both an illustrious past and a promising future.
Aaron and the Clouds
JEWISH THOUGHT
A passage in the Talmud credits Aaron for the divine clouds that accompanied the Israelites in the wilderness. In his 16th-century work Netzach Yisrael, Maharal of Prague explores the connection between the clouds’ symbolic significance and Aaron’s role among the Israelites.
The Mystical Meaning of Aaron’s Life
CHASIDUT
The Jewish mystical tradition associates Aaron with the divine attribute of majesty, and with the Oral Torah. Rabbi Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin, a 19th-century Chasidic master, explains the significance of these associations and what they mean for the Jewish calendar.
An Invited Guest
LITURGY
Aaron is among the seven ushpizin — guests — traditionally invited into the Sukkah during the holiday of Sukkot. The liturgy for Sukkot includes Aaron among several other central biblical figures.
An illustration of Aaron holding the budding staff. Gondar, late 17th century. From the British Library Archive
An illustration of Aaron holding the budding staff. Gondar, late 17th century. From the British Library Archive
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