Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Bible Character Studies: Aaron



What do we know of him?

-Aaron was three years older than Moses. Ex. 7:7

-His parents were Amram and Jochebed. She was his aunt. Exodus 6:20

-Both parents were from the tribe of Levi. Ex. 2:1,4:14

-He was Moses’ spokesperson/prophet. He was eloquent. Ex. 4:14-16

-He was possibly the middle child, Miriam being the eldest. He would’ve already been a toddler or young boy when Pharaoh’s edict was passed, so he was safe. Ex. 2:4,7

-He went with Moses to Pharaoh each time, and also before the elders of Israel. Ex. 4:29,30,5:20,6:26,27,7:10,8:8,12,9:27,10:16

-He was obedient. Ex. 7:6,20,12:50

-He was 83 when he spoke to Pharaoh. Ex. 7:7

-Wife’s name, Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Nashon. Ex. 6:23

-Sons: Nadab, Abihu (who were killed by the LORD, Lev. 10:1-3), Eleazar and Ithamar. Ex. 6:23

-Eleazar’s son was Phineas. Ex. 6:25

-Used by God to perform some of the miracles. Ex. 7:10-12,8:5,6,16,17

-God spoke in his hearing as well. Ex. 12:1,43, 20:22

-He supported Moses during the battle with the Amalekites. Ex. 17:11,12

-He went up onto the mountain with Moses and heard the Ten Commandments and other laws. Ex. 24:1,9

-He saw God. Ex. 24:9-11

-He stood in for Moses while he was away. Ex. 24:14

-He was consecrated (set apart) as High Priest, with his sons as priests. Ex.27:21, 28:1,2,12,29,30,35,38,40,41, 29:4-10,15,19,24,27, 28,32,44,30:7,8,10,19-21,30

-Even though he had witnessed all the signs and wonders in Egypt, heard the voice of God and walked through the Red Sea, ate manna and quail, drank water from the rock, and saw God give them victory over the Amalekites, he still led the people in idolatry and did not restrain them. Ex. 32

-He voiced no argument or entreaty when the people asked him to make an idol, even after all this revelation! Ex. 32:1-4

-He even built an altar for the golden calf, and then, as if to legitimize it, he tried to associate it with a feast to the LORD. First case of syncretism (mixing the worship of God with pagan worship). Ex. 32:5

-When questioned by Moses, he blamed the people’s propensity to sin, told him their reasoning for wanting a god (that something must have happened to Moses), and therefore he should make them gods to go before them. Ex. 32:22,23

-He distances himself from the idol-making, even though he admits to taking their gold, but says, “So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.” Ex. 32:25 He implies he was passive, and the idol has almost a supernatural origin/it created itself. Ex. 32:24

-He didn’t restrain the people, to their shame among their enemies. Ex. 32:25

-The idolators were killed/plagued “because of the calf which Aaron made.” Ex. 32:26-35

-He was afraid when he saw how Moses’ face shone after speaking with God. Ex.34:30,31

-He was clothed in the garments of the High Priest and consecrated along with his sons. Ex. 40:12-16. 30,31

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