Topical Bible: Aaron: Lineage of

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Aaron, a prominent figure in the Hebrew Bible, is best known as the brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel. His lineage is significant in understanding the priestly heritage and the establishment of the Levitical priesthood.

Tribe of Levi

Aaron was born into the tribe of Levi, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The Levites were set apart for religious duties and service to the tabernacle. Aaron's father, Amram, was a Levite, and his mother, Jochebed, was also of the tribe of Levi. This tribal affiliation is crucial as it established Aaron's eligibility for the priesthood. In Exodus 6:16-20 , the genealogy of Levi is outlined, highlighting Aaron's descent:

"These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years. The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimei, by their clans. The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years. The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites according to their records. Amram married his father's sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years."

Family of Amram

Aaron was the elder brother of Moses and Miriam. The family of Amram played a pivotal role in the Exodus narrative and the leadership of the Israelites. Aaron's position as Moses' spokesperson and his role in the priesthood were integral to the religious and communal life of the Israelites.

Descendants of Aaron

Aaron had four sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These sons were consecrated as priests, continuing the priestly lineage. However, Nadab and Abihu died without offspring due to their unauthorized offering of fire before the Lord (Leviticus 10:1-2). The priestly line continued through Eleazar and Ithamar. Numbers 3:2-4 states:

"These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, then Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These were the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests. Nadab and Abihu, however, died in the presence of the LORD when they offered unauthorized fire before Him in the Wilderness of Sinai. And they had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron."

Eleazar and Phinehas

Eleazar succeeded Aaron as high priest and played a significant role in the leadership of Israel after Aaron's death. Eleazar's son, Phinehas, is noted for his zealousness for the Lord, which secured the covenant of a lasting priesthood for his descendants (Numbers 25:10-13).

Priestly Lineage

The lineage of Aaron is foundational to the establishment of the Levitical priesthood, which was responsible for the religious rites and ceremonies in Israel. The descendants of Aaron, particularly through Eleazar and Phinehas, continued to serve as priests and high priests, maintaining the religious traditions and laws given to Moses on Mount Sinai.

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Exodus 6:16-20
And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari: and the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years.
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Joshua 21:4,10
And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.
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1 Chronicles 6:2,3
And the sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.
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1 Chronicles 23:13
The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister to him, and to bless in his name for ever.
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Library

Of those Things which a Man of God Spake by the Spirit to Eli the ...
... There is no priest after the order of Aaron; and whoever is a man of his lineage,
when he sees the sacrifice of the Christians prevailing over the whole world ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 5 of those things which.htm

Blessed be He that Blots Out in Water Misdeeds that are Without ...
... bondman,"and raise him to freedom; it has joined the bondman to the lineage,"of
Him ... In the rod was He of Moses, and in the hyssops of Aaron,"and in the ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn iv blessed be he.htm

Refutation of the Jews
... Moses and Aaron died in the mountain, and David ended his days in his house ... hanging
before your eyes," they say, and "Who shall declare of what lineage He comes ...
/.../athanasius/on the incarnation of the word/chapter 6 refutation of the.htm

The Sedition of Corah and of the Multitude against Moses, and ...
... And I suppose we may admit Aaron without offense, to offer himself to this scrutiny,
since he is of the same lineage with thyself, and has done nothing in his ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 the sedition of.htm

Saul's Expedition against the Nation of the Ammonites and victory ...
... the blood and slaughter of those that were of the same lineage with themselves ... Almighty,
who brought those excellent brethren, I mean Moses and Aaron, into the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 5 sauls expedition against.htm

Book vii. On the Useful or the Ordinary
... or candor; in Exodus: next you will prepare tunics of linen for the sons of Aaron. ...
The jar is lineage; in the psalm: Moab is the jar of my hope, that is ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/book vii on the useful.htm

On the Catholic Faith
... He is coeternal with the Father, ever become Father, for the divine lineage must
not ... known before - and brought forth His host by the hands of Moses and Aaron. ...
/.../boethius/the theological tractates/on the catholic faith.htm

Of the Fact that Matthew, Together with Mark, had Specially in ...
... by,"the one viewing him as the person from whom, through Solomon, His lineage can
be ... woman whom he had for wife was one of the daughters of Aaron, which is ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter iii of the fact that.htm

An Explanation of the Sense in which Christ is the Son of David ...
... was descended in some way, according to the laws of blood, from the lineage of David ...
that Elisabeth, whom he records to be of the daughters of Aaron, [669] was ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter ii an explanation of the.htm

Interpretation of Holy Scripture. --Inspired Interpretation. --The ...
... as very God, was without human parentage,"had no earthly lineage;""was before all ...
of the superiority of our Saviour's Priesthood over that of Aaron, in the ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/sermon v interpretation of holy.htm