Aaron
High Priest Aaron | |
|---|---|
אַהֳרֹן | |
The High Priest Aaron by Joan de Joanes, c. 1545 – c. 1550 | |
| Venerated in | Judaism Christianity Islam Samaritanism Baháʼí Faith Mormonism Rastafari |
| Feast | Latin Church: July 1 The Sunday before Nativity (Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the Old Testament) (Eastern Orthodox Church) Maronite Church: September 4 |
| Title |
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| Personal life | |
| Born | Goshen, Lower Egypt, Ancient Egypt |
| Died | Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, Transjordan, or Moseroth, near Edom (aged 123 in Jewish traditions) |
| Nationality | Israelite Egyptian |
| Spouse | Elisheba |
| Children |
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| Parents |
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| Religious life | |
| Religion | Abrahamic religions |
According to the Old Testament of the Bible, Aaron[note 1] (/ˈɛrən/ ⓘ AIR-ən or /ˈærən/ ⓘ ARR-ən)[2] was an Israelite prophet, high priest, and the elder brother of Moses. Information about Aaron comes exclusively from religious texts, such as the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament (Luke, Acts, and Hebrews),[3][4][5] and the Quran.
The Hebrew Bible relates that, unlike Moses, who grew up in the Egyptian royal court, Aaron and his elder sister Miriam remained with their kinsmen in the northeastern region of the Nile Delta. When Moses first confronted the Egyptian king about the enslavement of the Israelites, Aaron served as his brother's spokesman to the Pharaoh.[6] Part of the Law given to Moses at Sinai granted Aaron the priesthood for himself and his male descendants, and he became the first High Priest of the Israelites.[7] Levitical priests or kohanim are traditionally believed and halakhically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from Aaron.[8]
According to the Book of Numbers, Aaron died at 123 years of age, on Mount Hor, in the fortieth year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt.[9] Deuteronomy, however, places these events at Moseroth.[10][11]
Thomas Römer argues the Pentateuch reflects unresolved tensions between Moses, Aaron, and the Levites, with Moses portrayed as dominant.[12]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Olsonwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Wells, John C. (2008). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (3rd ed.). Longman. ISBN 978-1-4058-8118-0.
- ^ (Luke 1:5
- ^ Acts 7:40
- ^ Hebrews 5:4, 7:11, 9:4)
- ^ "Exodus 7:1". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
- ^ Rockwood 2007, p. 1
- ^ Mark Leuchter, Mark Leuchter (2021). "How All Kohanim Became Sons of Aaron". TheTorah.com. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
- ^ Numbers 20:22, 33:38
- ^ McCurdy 1906, p. 3
- ^ Deuteronomy 10:6
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:1was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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