Who was Aaron in the Bible?
Aaron was very important among the Israelites because he was a very special person to them. He is mentioned in the Bible and in the Torah, as well as in the Qur’an. In fact, Aaron was the brother of Moses and was older than him; his job was to explain the messages of Moses. They used to help in conveying God’s message to the people.
Aaron’s Family And Early Life
Among the Israelites there was a Tribe called Levi. The job of this tribe was to lead the Imamate and Aaron was a part of this tribe. One of the sons of Jacob was Aaron and this tribe was chosen by God to serve humanity. Aaron was the eldest brother of Moses, he drowned Prophet Moses in the river, but he himself remained in slavery. Later he spent his whole life with Moses as his spokesperson.
Verse
“Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, who bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.” (Exodus 6:20)
Aaron’s Role as Moses’ Spokesperson
When Moses (peace be upon him) was revealed and God commanded him to convey his message to the people, Moses (peace be upon him) said to God that his tongue is not clear, so how will he convey his message to the people? His elder brother Aaron was chosen for this task and made him the spokesperson of Moses to convey God’s message to Pharaoh and other people.
Verse
“Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 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 4:14-16)
The plagues of Egypt and Aaron’s Role
When Aaron, the elder brother of Moses, was chosen for this task, he sent a message to Pharaoh and demanded that his people be given freedom, but Pharaoh did not agree and refused. Then God’s miracles happened and he started suffering. In the Bible, it is written that Aaron raised a staff in his hand and performed various miracles. Among these miracles, one of the most important miracles was turning the river into blood.
Verse
The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt over the streams and canals, over the ponds and all the reservoirs and they will turn to blood.’ Blood will be everywhere in Egypt, even in vessels of wood and stone.” Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded. He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was changed into blood.” (Exodus 7:19-20)
Aaron’s Priesthood
When Moses was commanded to Mount Sinai, Aaron was given the responsibility of serving God’s house and offering sacrifices. Aaron’s tribe was Imamate and Aaron was made the first Imam of Israel, after him the Imamate continued in his generation and served forever.
Verse
“Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests. Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor. Tell all the skilled workers to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest.” (Exodus 28:1-3)
The Golden Calf Incident
God called Moses to Mount Sinai so that he could give Him the Torah, so Moses went there for a few days and left the responsibility behind to Aaron. So he made a golden calf on the demand of the Israelites. The Israelites became weak in their faith and they took this golden calf as God and started worshiping it. When Moses returned, He realized their weak faith and later tried to resolve the matter. Reference: (Exodus 32:1-4)
Aaron in The Testament
Along with the Old Testament, Aaron is also mentioned in the New Testament, besides; he is also mentioned in the Qur’an. In the New Testament Hebrew, he is mentioned as the High Priest and the role of Aaron in the Imamate is proved by this example.
Verse
“And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” (Hebrews 5:4-5)
Aaron’s Legacy
Aaron has a very deep influence on history. He was not only the spokesperson of Moses and his elder brother, but he was the Imam of the entire tribe and the Imamate was his responsibility. He was responsible for all the worship. Besides, he was also responsible for performing sacrifices and after him this legacy of Imamate continued in his generation.
The Challenge of Korah
There was a man from the tribe of Levi named Korah who challenged Moses and Aaron and refused their acceptance. He said that the priesthood is the right of everyone and everyone should have it. For this insolence God sent punishment and buried them in the ground, so everyone accepted Aaron as the Imam of the tribe. Reference: (Numbers 16:1-35)
Aaron’s Staff Blossoming
Like Korah, there were many more objections to Aaron’s leadership, so God sent a miracle. And in this miracle, Aaron’s staff was filled with flowers and fruits, which strengthened his leadership even more. And people believed him to be Imam.
Verse
“The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.” (Numbers 17:8)
Aaron’s Participation in Wilderness Journey
Aaron supported Moses in every situation and accompanied him on every journey, stood by him in every difficulty and faced them bravely. When they left Egypt and traveled to Sinai, he stayed with him. Aaron supported Moses in every difficult time.
Aaron’s Death And The Transfer of Priesthood
God told Moses to take Aaron to Mount Hor so that from there the responsibility of Imamate could be passed on to others and they could be freed. He died there on Mount Hor and the whole nation was very sad for him, but after his death the chain of Imamate continued in his generation. Reference: (Numbers 20:22-29)
Aaron And Bronze Snake Incident
When Moses, Aaron and Israel were going through the forest during the journey, Israel complained to God against Moses. God was angry with Israel and punished them with snakes. Moses and Aaron Prayed that God would deliver them from this torment and heal them. Then God asked Moses and Aaron to make a bronze snake so that they could be healed. Then Prophet Moses and Aaron did the same and saved their people. Reference: (Numbers 21:6-9)
Aaron in Modern Interpretations
Aaron’s role is still remembered in religious discussions because Aaron’s character was one who performed many services as an imam and through intercession and guidance he removed the problems of the people and faced sorrows and hardships for them. Aaron is seen as an important example in the modern Jewish and Christian community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusions
Aaron, who was the Imam of the tribe of Lewis, was the elder brother of Moses. Who became an imam according to the commands of God and supported Moses. His role as an imam is very important among Israelites. He did the work of sacrifice, guidance and intercession for the people. The Bible also mentions Aaron, one of the faithful servants who made efforts to convey God’s message to the people and helped His special prophets. Aaron is also mentioned in Christianity and Judaism and is of great importance.
