Category:Aaron (subject)

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According to Jewish (Christian, and Islamic) traditions, Aaron was the brother of Moses, the first High Priest, and the forefather of all priestly families (see Aaronites).

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Overview

In earlier sources Aaron is said to have been sent by God, together with his siblings Moses and Miriam, to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. No specific priestly functions are attributed to him.

In post-exilic sources Aaron is given much greater prominence as the first High Priest and the forefather of the Jewish priesthood; the Sons of Aaron thus become a separate and privileged class among the Sons of Levi.

Aaron, in ancient sources

Gospel of Luke

Luke 1:5 -- In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

Acts of Apostles

Acts 7:40 -- saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’

Letter to the Hebrews

Heb.5.4 -- And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

Heb.7.11 -- Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?

Heb 9:4 -- having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.

Aaron, in the arts

Golden Calf Poussin.jpg

Adoration of the Golden Calf (1634 Poussin), art
Aaron, Holy to the Lord (1650 Mola), art
Prophet Aaron (1750 Morlaiter), art

Aaron does not often appear in works of fiction and even more rarely as protagonist, or even co-protagonist. Aaron is a secondary character in the narrative of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, in the shadow of his brother Moses, notably, in some specific episodes like the Golden Calf, the Fall of the Manna or the Brass Serpent.

The most conspicuous works of arts related to Aaron are the 1650 painting by Mola, the recent novel by Rives, and the opera Moses und Aaron by Schoenberg.

In Christian iconography, Aaron is dressed as prescribed in Ex 28 and has on his head either a turban or the "holy crown" (with a pair of high horns that curve in toward each other).