Aaron, the brother of Moses, holds a significant place in biblical history as the first high priest of Israel. He was born into the tribe of Levi, the third son of Amram and Jochebed, and was the elder brother of Moses and Miriam (Exodus 6:20). Despite being the firstborn son, Aaron's role and authority were eventually superseded by his younger brother, Moses, who was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

Aaron's Role and Responsibilities

Aaron's primary role was as the high priest, a position of great spiritual responsibility. He was appointed by God to serve as the intermediary between the Israelites and God, performing sacrifices and rituals as outlined in the Mosaic Law. The Book of Exodus details Aaron's consecration and the specific duties he was to perform (Exodus 28-29). As high priest, Aaron wore special garments, including the ephod and breastplate, which symbolized his sacred duties (Exodus 28:4-30).

Supersession by Moses

While Aaron was the firstborn, it was Moses who was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt. This divine selection is evident in the burning bush encounter, where God calls Moses to deliver His people (Exodus 3:1-10). Despite Moses' initial reluctance and his claim of being "slow of speech and tongue" (Exodus 4:10), God reassures him by appointing Aaron as his spokesman: "He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him" (Exodus 4:16).

Aaron's role as the spokesperson highlights his supportive position to Moses' leadership. Although Aaron was instrumental in communicating God's messages to Pharaoh and performing signs, such as turning his staff into a serpent (Exodus 7:9-12), it was Moses who held the ultimate authority as God's chosen leader.

Challenges and Failures

Aaron's leadership was not without challenges and failures. One of the most notable incidents was the creation of the golden calf at Mount Sinai. While Moses was on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments, Aaron succumbed to the people's demands and fashioned an idol, leading to a grave sin against God (Exodus 32:1-6). This event demonstrated Aaron's susceptibility to pressure and his failure to uphold the covenantal faithfulness required of a leader.

Despite this failure, Aaron's priestly line continued through his descendants, as God reaffirmed the Aaronic priesthood. The Book of Numbers records the budding of Aaron's staff as a sign of God's chosen priesthood, distinguishing Aaron and his descendants from other Levites (Numbers 17:8-10).

Legacy and Significance

Aaron's legacy is multifaceted. As the first high priest, he established the priestly functions and rituals that would be central to Israelite worship. His life serves as a testament to God's grace and the importance of obedience and faithfulness. Although Aaron's authority was superseded by Moses, his role as high priest laid the foundation for the Levitical priesthood, which continued to play a crucial role in Israel's religious life.

Aaron's life and ministry are a reminder of the complexities of leadership and the necessity of divine guidance. His account underscores the biblical theme that God's purposes often transcend human expectations, as seen in the supersession of the firstborn by a divinely chosen leader.Exodus 7:1,2
And the LORD said to Moses, See, I have made you a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Numbers 12:2,8
And they said, Has the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? has he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Israelites
... the town of Sidon is the "first-born" of Canaan ... At first the Canaanites were treated
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/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter i the israelites.htm

The Allegory of Melchizedek.
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for themselves first, then for ... made to Abraham, was not superseded by the ...
/.../the expositors bible the epistle to the hebrews/chapter vii the allegory of.htm

The Day of Pentecost.
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/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture ii the day of.htm

The House of Zacharias.
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//christianbookshelf.org/meyer/john the baptist/ii the house of zacharias.htm

Period iv. The Age of the Consolidation of the Church: 200 to 324 ...
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Jesus Christ.{HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS} He [Praxeas] was the first to import ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period iv the age of.htm

Hymns of Christian Devotion and Experience.
... the Gospel Hymns it is, however, superseded by the ... of the New England Conservatory,
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/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter iii hymns of christian.htm

The Lost Silver Piece
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/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the lost silver piece.htm

Appeal to the Christian Women of the South
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/.../an appeal to the christian women of the south/appeal to the christian women.htm

From 1787 to 1791 Inclusive
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/.../a history of the methodist episcopal church volume i/chapter 2 from 1787 to.htm

An Essay on the Scriptural Doctrine of Immortality.
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/.../an essay on the scriptural.htm

What was the first / original church? Is the original / first church the true church? | GotQuestions.org

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