Aaron, the brother of Moses, holds a significant place in biblical history as the first high priest of Israel. His priesthood is foundational to the Levitical priesthood and the religious practices of ancient Israel. The establishment of Aaron's priesthood is detailed in the Pentateuch, particularly in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers.

Divine Appointment

Aaron's appointment as high priest is divinely ordained. In Exodus 28:1 , God commands Moses, "Bring near to you your brother Aaron and his sons with him, from among the Israelites, to serve Me as priests—Aaron and his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar." This appointment signifies a hereditary priesthood, with Aaron's descendants serving as priests.

Consecration and Garments

The consecration of Aaron and his sons is described in Exodus 29 and Leviticus 8. The process involves a series of rituals, including washing, anointing with oil, and the offering of sacrifices. Aaron's priestly garments, detailed in Exodus 28, are elaborate and symbolic, including the ephod, breastpiece, robe, tunic, turban, and sash. These garments set Aaron apart for his sacred duties and symbolize his role as mediator between God and the people.

Duties and Responsibilities

As high priest, Aaron's primary responsibilities include offering sacrifices, maintaining the sanctuary, and interceding for the people. Leviticus 16 outlines the Day of Atonement, a critical annual event where Aaron enters the Most Holy Place to make atonement for himself and the nation. Numbers 18:7 emphasizes the exclusivity of Aaron's role: "But only you and your sons may perform the priestly duties and everything pertaining to the altar and inside the veil; I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift."

Challenges and Failures

Aaron's priesthood is not without challenges. In Numbers 12, Aaron and Miriam speak against Moses, questioning his unique relationship with God. God rebukes them, affirming Moses' leadership. Additionally, Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, face divine judgment for offering unauthorized fire before the Lord (Leviticus 10:1-2). Despite these incidents, Aaron's priesthood remains central to Israel's worship.

Legacy and Significance

Aaron's priesthood establishes a pattern for the Levitical priesthood, which continues throughout Israel's history. His role as high priest foreshadows the ultimate high priesthood of Jesus Christ, as described in the New Testament book of Hebrews. Aaron's priesthood underscores themes of mediation, atonement, and the holiness required to approach God.Exodus 28:1
And take you to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.
Nave's Topical Index

Exodus 29:9
And you shall gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put the bonnets on them: and the priest's office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute: and you shall consecrate Aaron and his sons.
Nave's Topical Index

Numbers 17:1
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Nave's Topical Index

Numbers 18:1
And the LORD said to Aaron, You and your sons and your father's house with you shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 99:6
Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call on his name; they called on the LORD, and he answered them.
Nave's Topical Index

Hebrews 5:4
And no man takes this honor to himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
Nave's Topical Index

Of the Priesthood of Aaron.
... BOOK III. Containing The Interval Of Two Years. From The Exodus Out Of Egypt, To
The Rejection Of That Generation. CHAPTER 8. Of The Priesthood Of Aaron. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 of the priesthood.htm

Thirtieth Lesson. An Holy Priesthood;'
... And now the way to the priesthood. In Aaron God had chosen all his sons
to be priests: each of them was a priest by birth. And yet ...
/.../with christ in the school of prayer/thirtieth lesson an holy priesthood.htm

Of those Things which a Man of God Spake by the Spirit to Eli the ...
... them." This, therefore, is made a sign of the change of the priesthood from this
man's house, by which it is signified that the priesthood of Aaron's house is ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 5 of those things which.htm

The Allegory of Melchizedek.
... In Aaron priesthood is sown in corruption, dishonour, weakness; in Christ
priesthood is raised in incorruption, in glory, in power. ...
/.../the expositors bible the epistle to the hebrews/chapter vii the allegory of.htm

Christ and Aaron. Taken from Heb. 7 and 9
... 4 [Their priesthood ran thro' several hands ... 5 [Once in the circuit of a year With
blood, but not his own, Aaron within the veil appears Before the golden throne ...
/.../watts/hymns and spiritual songs/hymn 0 142361111 christ and aaron.htm

The Sedition of Corah and of the Multitude against Moses, and ...
... for himself, and by ill arts should obtain it, under the pretense of God's command,
while, contrary to laws, he had given the priesthood to Aaron, the common ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 the sedition of.htm

Christ and Aaron. Heb. 7; 9
... For ever all our guilt.]. [Their priesthood ran through several hands,. For mortal
was their race; ... With blood, but not his own,. Aaron within the veil appears. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/hymn 145 christ and aaron.htm

Caiaphas
... Solemn and strange that the long line of Aaron's priesthood ended in such a
man"the river in a putrid morass"and that of all the years in the history of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/caiaphas.htm

Christ Our High Priest.
... they had all to bring their offering to the priests appointed of the family of Aaron,
and have them make the offering. With a change of the priesthood came a ...
/.../xi christ our high priest.htm

The Covenant of an Everlasting Priesthood
... unto Moses, saying, Phineas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, hath turned ... and
his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/murray/the two covenants/chapter xv the covenant of.htm

What should we learn from the golden calf incident in Exodus 32? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Miriam in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

How were Pharaoh's magicians able to perform miracles? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus