Aaron- († 1445 BC) the first Old Testament high priest, brother of the prophet Moses, descendant of Levi, son of Amram and Jochebed (;). God appointed Aaron to speak to the people instead of his tongue-tied brother, Moses. Aaron was to become the “mouth” of Moses () and his prophet (). Aaron was the first high priest and the founder of the only legitimate line of priests. Moses receives a command from God to ordain Aaron and his sons as priests. The descendants of Aaron received the right to inherit the high priesthood (). The purpose of priests and their duties, rights to sacrifices and their provision are established by God Himself (). The priests of Israel were called the “house of Aaron” ().

In the New Testament, the image of Aaron's high priesthood is revealed from two sides.

First, the High Priesthood of Aaron is spoken of as a type of the High Priesthood of Jesus Christ. Like Aaron, Jesus Christ did not appropriate to Himself the office of high priest, but was called by God: “And no one of himself accepts this honor, but he who is called by God, like Aaron. So Christ did not appropriate to Himself the glory of being a high priest, but He who said to Him: You are My Son, today I have begotten You” (). Like Aaron, Jesus Christ had to offer a sacrifice for sins to propitiate: “For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed for men to serve God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins” ().

Secondly, it points to the advantage of the high priesthood of Jesus Christ, Who, Himself being perfect God and perfect man, once offered the perfect Sacrifice for sins - Himself. As the Son of God He is: “A High Priest: holy, free from evil, without blemish, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens, who does not need to offer sacrifices daily, like those high priests, first for his own sins, then for the sins of the people, for He has done this one day, sacrificing Himself. For the law appoints as high priests those who have infirmities; and the word of oath, after the law, established the Son, perfect forever” ().

In the New Testament, the high priesthood of Christ is compared to the high priesthood of Melchizedek, which is given precedence over the high priesthood of Aaron.
Melchizedek (“King of Truth”) is the king and high priest of Salem, identified with Jerusalem, who came out with gifts to meet Abraham after his victory and blessed him. As a priest, Melchizedek is superior to the Levitical priests, for in the person of their ancestor Abraham, the sons of Levi respectfully bowed before him, received his blessing and brought him tribute. He is a prototype of the gracious High Priesthood of Jesus Christ, superior to the Old Testament priesthood according to the order of Aaron. Like Melchizedek, the Lord Jesus Christ is King and High Priest (), Like Melchizedek, the Lord Jesus Christ is incomparably higher than Abraham or his descendants. Like Melchizedek, the Lord Jesus Christ appears without a father, without a mother, without a genealogy, having neither the beginning of days nor the end of life ().

“For it is known that our Lord arose from the tribe of Judah, about which Moses said nothing regarding the priesthood. And this is even more clearly seen from the fact that in the likeness of Melchizedek another Priest arises, who is such not according to the law of the carnal commandment, but according to the power of unceasing life. For it is testified: You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek. The abolition of a former commandment occurs because of its weakness and uselessness, for the law did not bring anything to perfection; but a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. And since this was not without an oath, for they were priests without an oath, but this one was with an oath, because it was said about Him: The Lord swore, and will not repent: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek, then Jesus became the surety of a better covenant” (K) .

; Exodus 6.16-23) and was 3 years older than his brother Moses (Exodus 7.7; Num. 26.59). Biblical information about A. before his calling by the Lord is very scarce: from his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Amminadab, A. had 4 sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar (Exodus 6:23).

The Lord called A. to ministry at the age of 83 (Exodus 7:7). Initially, A.’s activity was connected with the mission of Moses, who, citing his tongue-tiedness, wanted to refuse the order to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 4.10; 6.30). Then the Lord pointed to A. as an assistant capable of speaking: “You (Moses) will speak to him and put words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you what you should do. And he will speak for you to the people” (Exodus 4. 15-16; 6. 30-7. 2). From the mountain of God, Moses and A. descended into Egypt, where A. convinced the children of Israel, retelling to them the words spoken by the Lord to Moses (Exodus 4:29-30). Together with Moses, A. participated in a dispute with Pharaoh, frightening him with signs. He turned his staff into a serpent, and after Egypt did the same. magicians, the rod of A. absorbed the rods of Egypt. magicians (Exodus 7:10-12). A. frightened Pharaoh with 10 signs, and the first 3 - the transformation of water into blood (Exodus 7.20), the removal of frogs (Exodus 8.5-6), the appearance of midges (Exodus 8.16-17) - were performed by the hand of A. (see . Egyptian executions). A. and Moses received the Passover statute from the Lord (Exodus 12.1-20; 12.43-49). Together with Or, A. supported the weakened hands of Moses until the final victory over the Amalekites (Exodus 17:12). Together with his sons Nadab and Abihu and 70 elders of Israel, A. accompanied Moses to the city of Sinai, where Moses alone approached the Lord, and those accompanying him from afar worshiped Him “and saw [the place of standing] the God of Israel” (Exodus 24. 1-2, 9 -eleven). During Moses' forty-day stay in Sinai, A., forced by the people, made a golden calf (Exodus 32:4). The sin of worshiping an idol almost led to the death of both the unbridled people and A. himself, saved only by the intercession of Moses (Ex. 32. 7-14; Deut. 9. 19-20).

During the period of wandering through the desert, A. was always next to Moses: they kept a record of the Israelis fit for war (Numbers 1.3); endured the murmurs and threats of the people (Numbers 14.2-10); They prayed for the forgiveness of “the whole community” (Num. 16.22) and finally shared a common fate: for their unbelief at the waters of Meribah, A. and Moses were recognized by the Lord as unworthy to enter the Promised Land (Num. 20.8-13). Only once did A., together with Miriam, reproach Moses for taking an Ethiopian wife as his wife. However, unlike Miriam, A. was not punished with leprosy (Numbers 12).

As a high priest, A. was called to serve by the Lord and ordained prophet. Moses (Ex 29. 4-21; 40. 12-15; Lev 8. 1-30; Heb 5. 4), who clothed him and anointed him with oil before entering the tabernacle of meeting, i.e. establishing the right of the Old Testament priests to perform divine services (Exodus 27.21-22, 28; 29.4-21; Lev 8.1-30). In the person of A. and his sons Dr. Israel received an institutional priesthood (see Old Testament Priesthood). A.'s activities as a high priest included not only cultic, but also judicial, as well as teaching service (Sir 45. 20-21). A.’s duties included daily liturgical activities in the tabernacle of meeting: burning incense (Exodus 30.7-8), preparing and lighting lamps (Exodus 27.20-21; 30.8). On Saturday A. placed 12 fresh loaves of bread with incense and salt on a clean table before the Lord (Lev 16:33). The priest was endowed with the rights of final judicial authority (Deut. 17.12; 19.17; 21.5; 33.10). A. and his sons had to “teach the children of Israel all the statutes that the Lord spoke to them through Moses” (Lev 10.11). For violating religious decrees, A.’s 2 eldest sons were burned “with fire from the Lord,” and A. silently endured their death (Lev 10. 1-7).

When Korah and other noble men sought an equal priesthood with A. (Numbers 16. 1-3), the Lord confirmed the election of A. and his sons: Korah, Dathan and Abiron were swallowed up by the earth, and a pestilence began among the people. By order of Moses, A. “stood ... between the dead and the living” and performed propitiatory incense, thereby ending the defeat committed by the Lord among the people (Numbers 16. 24-40). Confirmation of A.'s election was also a miracle with A.'s rod, which was placed in the tabernacle of meeting along with the rods of the 12 elders and was found miraculously blossoming (Numbers 17) (see Aaron's rod). The intercession of A., who averted the wrath of God, is glorified by later biblical authors (Wis. 18.20-25; Ps. 76.21; 105.16). A. died at the age of 123 on the top of the city of Or (according to Deut. 10.6, this happened in the area of ​​​​Moser; see Aaron’s grave). Moses took off A.'s priestly clothes and clothed his son and successor Eleazar in them (Numbers 20.27-28; 33.39). The people of Israel mourned A. for 30 days.

The NT says that the family of rights goes back to A. Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1.5). In the message of Ap. Paul to the Hebrews emphasizes the transitory significance of the A. priesthood, “for the law is associated with it” (Heb. 7:11). He is replaced by “Christ, the High Priest of the good things to come” (Heb 9:11), who will rise according to the order of Melchizedek (Heb 7:11-17).

Lit.: Ephraim the Syrian, St. Interpretation of the books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy // Creations. Serg. P., 1901; M., 1995. T. 6; Theodoret of Cyrrhus, blest. // Creations. Serg. P., 19052. Part 1; Titov G. I. The history of the priesthood and Levitism of the Old Testament church, from the beginning of their establishment under Moses to the founding of the Church of Christ, and their relationship to the pagan priesthood. Tiflis, 1878; Savvaitsky M. I. Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. St. Petersburg, 1889; Priklonsky V. Old Testament high priesthood // PS. 1901. No. 6; Westphal G. Aaron und die Aaroniden // ZAW. 1906. Bd. 26. S. 201-230; North F.S. Aaron's Rise in Prestige // Ibid. 1954. Vol. 66. P. 191-199; Auerbach E. Das Aharon-Problem: Rome Congress Volume. 1969. S. 37-63. (VTS; 17); Cody A . A History of Old Testament Priesthood R., 1969. (AnBib; 35).

priest Vladimir Kilchevsky

Hymnography

Although in the Monthly Words adopted by local Orthodox Churches. Churches, A. does not have a separate memory; his name is mentioned together with the names of other Old Testament righteous people in the services of the Forefather and Father Weeks before the Nativity of Christ (see Forefather of Saints Week, Father of Saints Week), as well as together with the name of the prophet. Moses in the alleluia at the liturgy and in the seat of the canon of the holy prophets at Little Compline in the first week of Great Lent (see Orthodoxy Week). Some ancient Monthly Words indicate to celebrate the memory of A. on July 20, along with the memory of the prophets Moses, Elisha, Samuel and Elijah (the memorial of the prophet Elijah on July 20 is indicated in most Monthly Words, including in modern - Sergius (Spassky) . Mesyatseslov. T. 2. P. 219). In service Aug 20 prophet and priest Samuel is repeatedly compared with A. (for example, “” - troparion of the 8th canon of the Matins canon - Menaion (ST). August. L. 169). In zap. In Jerome's martyrology, A.'s memory is indicated under July 1, in Copt. monthly - on March 28th. In Orthodox hymnographic and euchological texts glorify the high priestly dignity of A. (see, for example, the “prayer of offering” in the liturgy of St. Basil the Great); The rod of A. is especially mentioned, often as one of the prototypes of the Mother of God. The great canon of Andrew of Crete contrasts A. with the wicked priests Hophni and Phineas (troparion of the 5th canto: "" - Lenten Triodion. Part 1. L. 303). According to Greek manuscripts from the 14th century. (Sin. Gr. 672) 2 are known that were not included in the printed Menaions of the canon of A., placed under August 8. (Ταμεῖον. Ν 824, 825. Σ. 264-265).

Lit.: Kravetsky. Dictionary.

M. S. Zheltov

Iconography

Images of A. are known from Christian monuments. art mainly in scenes of the Exodus. One of the oldest was preserved in the paintings of the synagogue in Dura-Europos (Syria), 245-250: A. is represented as an old man in the robes of a high priest (clothed in an ephod, breastplate, subdir, with a turban on his head) inside the temple where the Ark of the Covenant was placed. Mostly early Byzantine. monuments A. appears in the guise of a young man in ancient attire (mosaics of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, 432-440). Stable iconography of A. takes shape during the era of the Macedonian dynasty (IX - XI centuries) - he is depicted as a gray-haired, long-bearded old man, in priestly vestments, with a staff and censer (or casket) in his hands. This iconography is known from book miniatures (for example, the Khludov Psalter, 9th century, fol. 98v.) and illustrations of the Octateuchs of the 11th-13th centuries, where A. is presented in a number of scenes: A.’s rod turns into a snake in front of the pharaoh and absorbs the rods Egypt sorcerers (Ex 7. 10-12) (one of the early images is on the gates of the Church of St. Sabina in Rome, c. 430); A. and Hor support the hands of Moses in the battle with the Amalekites (Exodus 17:12) and others (see Aaron's rod). In the 11th century A.'s image appears in monumental painting, his image was placed in the painting of the altar volume (St. Sophia of Kiev, mid-11th century, Anthony's Monastery of Rome, 1117-1119). This tradition in Russian. monuments remained until the 16th century. (the council of the king. The “Charter of the Community” foreshadows the coming of the “Messiahs of Aaron and Israel” (1QS 9. 11). In the Qumran texts A. is the image of the Messiah-High Priest. The “Damascus document” perhaps speaks of only one Messiah: “ The Messiah of Aaron and Israel will arise" (CD 12. 23-13. 1); "The Messiah of Aaron and Israel will cleanse their sin" (CD 14. 19), etc. The "Additions to the Charter of the Community" report on a certain messianic feast, to -rom the “sons of Aaron” have a privileged position: they sit before the Messiah of Israel (the king, in this case, apparently different from the “Messiah Aaron” - 1QSa 2. 12-14).

Rabbinic literature is distinguished by a special love for the personality of A. The rabbis describe A. as a great peacemaker, who “will not leave until he sees that there is no longer a drop of malice left in the soul ... of a person” (Avot R. Nathan 12 ). It was suggested that A.’s behavior in the story of the golden calf (Exodus 32) can be explained by his meekness: he could have punished the idolaters with death, but he took pity on them. In the 1st century BC, the famous Pharisee Hillel said: “Be a disciple of Aaron - love the world and strive for peace, love people and bring them closer to the Law of God” (Pirke Avot 1.12). According to one of the commentaries, it was for these qualities that God made A. high priest (Shemot Rabba 37.2). There was another explanation for A.’s behavior in Exodus 32: A. was afraid that he would suffer the same fate as Ora, who was killed while trying to confront sinners (Shemot Rabbah 41.9; Sanhedrin 7a).

It was reported about A.’s courage at the news of the death of his sons Nadav and Abihu (Lev 10): he saw his 2 “chicks” bathe in their blood, but remained silent (Vayikra Rabba 20.4); “The misfortune was endured by him with nobility, on the one hand, because he had great strength of spirit, and on the other, because he saw in this mountain a manifestation of the will of God” (Josephus. Ancient Jude. III 8.7). Like Abraham, who meekly agreed to sacrifice Isaac (Gen. 22), A. did not argue with God (Sifra 46a).

Tradition names A. among the few chosen ones of God, who died not as a result of their own sinfulness, but “because of the wiles of the serpent,” that is, the sin of Adam (Sifre Deut. 338-339). Tradition claimed that after the death of A. the Israelites grieved more than after the death of Moses (Sifra 45d). A.'s death is described in the midrash Petirat Aharon.

Lit.: Haggadah: Tales, parables, sayings of the Talmud and Midrash / Transl. S. G. Fruga. M., 1993; Korsunsky I. Jewish interpretation of the Old Testament. M., 1882; Gaertner B.The Temple and the Community in Qumran and the New Testament. Camb., 1965.

G. G. Yastrebov

In Muslim traditions

A. is known as Harun ibn Imran, the elder brother of Musa (Moses). The Koran reflects the biblical tradition, according to which A. was appointed assistant to the tongue-tied Moses. However, according to the Koran (20.90/87-88), the initiative to build the golden calf did not belong to A., but to a certain Samaritan. A. could not prevent the Israelites when they began to worship the calf (7. 148/146-151/150; 20. 29/30-33/34. 90/92-94/95; 28. 34-35). Mountain near Petra in South. Jordan, where, according to legend, A. was buried, is still revered by Muslims (see Aaron's grave).

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Chapter 28.
MOSES AND AARON

Aaron died and was buried on Mount Hor. Moses, Aaron's brother, and Eleazar, his son, accompanied his ashes to the burial place. Moses was given the heavy duty of removing the priestly garments from his brother Aaron and putting them on Eleazar, for God had said that he would succeed Aaron in his office as high priest. Moses and Eleazar witnessed Aaron's death, and Moses buried his brother on the mountain. This scene on Mount Hor takes us mentally back to the most amazing events in Aaron's life.

Aaron was a man of pleasant character; God chose him to stand with Moses and speak for him; in short, he was the mouth of Moses. God might have chosen Aaron as a leader, but He who knows hearts and understands human character knew that Aaron could be compliant, that he lacked the moral courage to stand up for the truth under any circumstances, regardless of the consequences. Aaron's desire to always be on good terms with the people sometimes led him to commit serious sins. He too often gave in to the requests of his compatriots and thereby dishonored God. The same lack of strong principles in the leadership of the family led to the death of two of his sons. Aaron was renowned for his piety and useful work, but he neglected the education of his family. Instead of demanding respect and deference from his sons, he allowed them to follow their inclinations. He did not instill self-denial in his children, but indulged their desires, and the children were not taught to respect and honor parental authority. The father managed his family well while he lived. But even after his children grew up and started their own families, he still had to remain an authority for them. God Himself was the monarch of His people and demanded obedience and reverence from them.

Order and prosperity in the kingdom depended on good order in the Church. And prosperity, harmony and order in the Church come from order and discipline in families. God punishes the unfaithfulness of parents whom He has charged to uphold the principles of parental government which are the basis of church discipline and the welfare of society. One disobedient child often disrupted peace and harmony in the Church and incited the entire people to murmuring and rebellion. God has most solemnly laid upon children the duty to love, respect, and honor their parents. On the other hand, He requires parents to diligently and continually train their children, teach them the requirements of the Law of God, and instruct them in the doctrine and fear of God. These commands which God so solemnly gave to the Jews apply equally to Christian parents. All who neglect the light and instruction which God has given in His Word concerning the training of children, and the commandment of their household after themselves to do the will of God, will have a terrible account to give. The criminal negligence of Aaron, who did not instill respect and respect for him in his sons, led to their death. God honored Aaron by choosing him and his male descendants to be priests. His sons performed the holy service. Nadab and Abihu disobeyed God's command to bring Him only sacred fire in censers filled with incense. God forbade them, on pain of death, to bring Him ordinary fire with incense.

But what happened was a consequence of poor discipline in the family. Because these sons of Aaron were not taught to respect and honor the commands of their father, because they did not respect parental authority, they also did not realize how important it was to exactly fulfill all the requirements of God. When they once again drank wine and were under its stimulating influence, their minds became clouded and they confused the holy with the unholy. Contrary to the clear instructions of God, they dishonored Him by bringing ordinary fire instead of sacred fire. God poured out His wrath on them; fire came out from before Him and destroyed them.

Aaron endured this severe punishment patiently and with humble submission. His soul languished from torment and sorrow. He felt remorse for neglecting his duty. He was the priest of the Most High God to cleanse the sins of the people, while also remaining the priest of his home and family, but he was inclined to turn a blind eye to the tricks of his sons. Aaron neglected his duty to direct the steps of his sons to obedience, self-denial and reverence for parental authority. Because of his undue leniency towards their misdeeds, he did not instill in them a deep respect for the eternal. Aaron did not understand, as most Christian parents do not understand, that with his blind love and indulgences in sin, he almost certainly doomed his children to the wrath of God, which sooner or later would lead them to destruction. Because Aaron did not exercise his parental authority, God's justice came upon his sons. Aaron needed to understand that his overly gentle protests, not supported by a firm parental hand, and his unreasonable tenderness towards his sons were in fact a manifestation of extreme cruelty. God took the matter of justice into His hands and destroyed the sons of Aaron.

After God commanded Moses to go up the mountain, six more days passed before he was received into the cloud of glory and stood before God Himself. The entire mountain top was ablaze with the glory of God. And even though the glory of God appeared before the eyes of the children of Israel, unbelief was so natural to them that they began to murmur and show dissatisfaction about the long absence of Moses. While the glory of God pointed to His holy presence on the mountain, and the leader of the Jews was in intimate fellowship with God, they had to sanctify themselves by earnest examination of their hearts, humility, and godly fear. God left Aaron and Hur in place of Moses. In his absence the people were to consult with these God-appointed men.

This is where Aaron's weaknesses as a leader or ruler of Israel emerged. The people literally besieged him, demanding that he make them gods who would lead them back to Egypt. Aaron had an opportunity to demonstrate his faith and unshakable trust in God and firmly and decisively resist the demand of the people. But his natural tendency to smooth out rough edges, to please everyone and to give in to persistent requests, led to the fact that he sacrificed the honor of God. Aaron asked the Jews to bring him their jewelry, from which he personally cast a golden calf for them and proclaimed to the people: “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” And for this senseless idol he made an altar, and declared a feast to the Lord the next day. It seemed that all restrictions had been lifted from the people. The Jews offered burnt offerings to the golden calf, and a frivolous spirit took possession of them. They took up shameful rioting and drunkenness; they ate, drank and got up to play.

But only a few weeks had passed since the Jews entered into a solemn covenant with God, promising to obey His voice. They listened to the words of the Law of God, spoken in terrible majesty from Mount Sinai amid thunder, lightning and earthquakes. They listened to the words from the mouth of God Himself: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above.” , and what is in the earth below, and what is in the water under the earth. Do not worship them or serve them; for I am the Lord your God, a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, and showing mercy. to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments" (Ex. 20:2-6).

Aaron and his sons were given the high honor of ascending the mountain and seeing the glory of God. “And they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet was something like work of pure sapphire, and as clear as the very heavens” (Ex. 24:10).

God gave Nadab and Abihu the most sacred work, honoring them in the most wonderful way. He allowed them to see His indescribable glory so that the brothers would remember what they saw on the mountain for the rest of their lives and thus be better prepared to serve Him. They were to give Him the highest honors and adore Him in the presence of all the people, in order to give the Jews a clearer idea of ​​His character and to awaken in them due obedience and reverence to all His requirements.

Before Moses left his people and went up the mountain, he read to them the words of the covenant that God had made with them, and the Jews unanimously answered: “We will do everything that the Lord has said, and we will obey” (Ex. 24:7). How great and grave Aaron’s sin must have been in the eyes of God!

When Moses received the Law of God on the mountain, the Lord informed him of the sin of rebellious Israel and asked him to abandon the Jews so that He could destroy them. But Moses began to intercede before God on behalf of the people. Although Moses was the meekest man who ever lived, yet when it came to the interests of the people over whom God had placed him as leader, he abandoned his natural shyness and, with inimitable persistence and wonderful courage, began to plead with God for Israel. He could not agree that God would destroy the Jewish people, although the Lord promised Moses that he would exalt him and make from him a better people than the Israelites.

Moses prevailed. God granted his sincere request not to destroy the Jewish people. Moses took the tablets of the covenant, the law of the Ten Commandments, and came down from the mountain. Long before he approached the camp, the sounds of the riotous and drunken revelry of the children of Israel reached his ears. When Moses saw their idolatry and the fact that they most clearly violated the words of the covenant, he was extremely upset and indignant at their base idolatry. Moses became very ashamed of his compatriots, he became embarrassed, threw the tablets to the ground and broke them. Since the Jews broke their covenant with God, Moses, by breaking the tablets, thereby testified to them that God was breaking His covenant with them. The tablets with the Law of God inscribed on them were broken.

Aaron, with his pleasant manners, very gently and courteously tried to pacify Moses, presenting the matter as if the people had not committed a particularly serious sin for which it was worth greatly grieving. Moses asked him in anger: “What have this people done to you, that you have brought them into great sin? But Aaron said: Let not the anger of my lord be kindled; you know this people, that they are violent. They said to me: “Make us a god.” , who would walk in front of us; for with Moses, with this man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what happened." And I said to them: "Whoever has gold, take it off you." And they gave it to me; I threw it into the fire and this one came out calf" (Ex. 32:21-24). Aaron wanted to convince Moses that, thanks to some great miracle, their jewelry was melted into the likeness of a calf. He did not tell Moses how, together with other artisans, he gave this image to gold.

Aaron believed that Moses was too unyielding towards the people. It seemed to him that if Moses had been sometimes less firm, less decisive, more willing to compromise with the people and satisfy their desires, he would not have caused so many troubles for himself and peace and harmony would have reigned in the Israeli camp. That's why Aaron tried to implement this new policy. He followed his natural temperament, yielding to the demands of the people, so as not to arouse discontent in them, to maintain their goodwill and thereby prevent an uprising, which seemed inevitable to him if he did not indulge the desires of his fellow tribesmen. But if Aaron had stood unwaveringly for God, if he had met the proposal of the Jews to make them gods who would take them back to Egypt, with the righteous indignation and horror that it deserved; if he reminded the Jews of the thunder at Sinai, where God spoke His law in such glory and in such majesty; if he would remind them of their solemn covenant with God, when the Jews promised to do everything that He commanded them; if he had told them that he would under no circumstances yield to their requests, even if they killed him, he would thereby have exerted a good influence on the people and prevented a terrible retreat. But when Aaron was required, in the absence of Moses, to use his authority correctly, when he had to stand firm and unyielding, as Moses did, and not allow the people to stray into the path of sin, he used his influence to harm the people. Aaron was unable to use his influence to uphold God's honor in keeping His holy law. On the contrary, he helped evil to establish itself and gave the people criminal instructions, which they willingly carried out.

When Aaron took the first step in the wrong direction, the same spirit that possessed the people was transmitted to him, and he, like a commander, led them with him into the nets of sin, and the people surprisingly obediently followed all his instructions. Thus, Aaron strongly approved of the most serious sins, since it was much easier than standing for the truth. When Aaron shirked his duty and allowed the people to sin, he seemed to be filled with new strength, determination, ardor and jealousy. Suddenly his shyness disappeared. With a zeal that he had never before shown in defending the honor of God against all unrighteousness, Aaron grabbed the tools to cast the image of a calf in gold. He ordered the construction of an altar and, with a confidence worthy of better use, announced to the people that the next day there would be a holiday to the Lord. The trumpeters took up the word from Aaron's mouth and sounded the trumpet throughout the entire Israeli camp about the upcoming holiday.

Aaron's calm confidence in the wrong cause created for him even greater authority among the people than Moses had when he led the Jews along the right path and pacified their rebellion. How terrible spiritual blindness befell Aaron if he began to mistake light for darkness, and darkness for light! What audacity it was on his part to declare a holiday to the Lord in the midst of general idolatry, when people prayed to the golden image! We see in this example what power Satan gains over minds unless they completely submit themselves to the control of the Spirit of God. Satan raised his banner in the midst of the camp of Israel, and it was exalted as the banner of God.

Aaron said without a hint of shame or embarrassment: “This is your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!” (Ex. 32:4). Under the influence of Aaron, the children of Israel went even deeper into the sin of idolatry than they originally intended. Now they were not at all worried that burning glory, like a blazing fire on a mountain, could consume their leader. The Jews decided that they now had a commander who suited them well, and were ready to do whatever he suggested. They made peace offerings to their golden god and indulged in pleasures, riotous fun and drunkenness. Then the Jews decided for themselves that so many troubles happened to them in the desert not because they were wrong, but because they had a bad leader. He was not the person they needed - too unyielding and constantly repeating about their sins, warning, reproaching and threatening them with Divine disapproval. Now they have established a new order, they are quite happy with Aaron and themselves. Oh, if only Moses were as sweet and pleasant as his brother Aaron, the Jews thought, what peace and harmony would then reign in the camp of Israel! Now they did not care whether Moses ever came down from the mountain or not.

Moses, seeing the idolatry of Israel, was so indignant at the shameful forgetfulness of the Jews and their denial of God that he threw the stone tablets and broke them. Aaron stood meekly by, bearing Moses' rebuke with commendable patience. The people were fascinated by the good-naturedness of Aaron and outraged by the rudeness of Moses. But God looks completely differently from man. He did not condemn the ardent indignation of Moses, for it was his response to the base apostasy of Israel.

This true commander resolutely sides with God. He had just been before the face of the Lord and begged Him to turn away the wrath of His lost people. Now, as God’s servant, he had to do one more thing: to restore God’s desecrated honor in the eyes of the people and convince the Jews that sin is sin, and truth is truth. Moses now had to counteract the terrible influence of Aaron. “And Moses stood at the gate of the camp and said, “Whoever is the Lord’s, come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered to him. And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: put every man his sword on his thigh, go through the camp from the gate.” to the gate and back, and kill every man his brother, every man his friend, every man his neighbor. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and about three thousand of the people fell that day: for Moses said, Today ye shall consecrate your hands to the Lord, every man. in his son and his brother, may He send you a blessing today" (Ex. 32:26-29).

Moses defines true dedication as obedience to God; it means standing for the truth and being ready to carry out God's purposes, to fulfill even the most unpleasant duties and thereby show that God's demands are incomparably higher than the claims of friends or even the lives of close relatives. The sons of Levi dedicated themselves to God to carry out His justice against crime and sin.

Aaron and Moses sinned by not giving God glory at the waters of Meribah. They were both tired of the constant complaints and provocations of the children of Israel, and at a time when God should have graciously revealed His glory to the people in order to soften and subdue the hearts of the Jews and lead them to repentance, Moses and Aaron took credit for the ability to open the rock. “Listen, rebellious ones, should we bring water out of this rock for you?” (Num. 20:10). They had a golden opportunity to sanctify the Lord in the midst of the assembly and to show the Jews God's long-suffering and tender compassion. The children of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron because they could not find water anywhere. Moses and Aaron perceived this grumbling as a difficult test and dishonor for themselves, forgetting that the people were not grieving them, but God. They sinned against God and dishonored Him, and not those whom God appointed to carry out His purposes. They insulted their best Friend; Seeing the causes of their disasters in the actions of Moses and Aaron, they grumbled against God's Providence.

Great was the sin of Moses and Aaron, these noble leaders. Their lives could have continued gloriously until the very end. They were exalted and glorified; however, God does not justify the sins of those who occupy high positions, just as He does not justify the sins of people engaged in simple work. Many Christians by confession look at people who do not expose sin and do not condemn evil as pious and true Christians, and those who boldly speak out in defense of the truth and do not want to change their principles to please the devilish influence of others, they consider ungodly people who there is a lack of truly Christian spirit.

Those who defend the honor of God and preserve the purity of truth at all costs will go through as many trials as our Savior did in the wilderness of temptation. At the same time, people of a compliant disposition, who do not have the courage to condemn evil, who are modestly silent at that decisive moment when it is necessary to resolutely speak out in defense of the truth, despite powerful pressure from others, will be able to avoid many troubles and difficulties, but at the same time they they will lose a glorious reward, and perhaps even their own soul. Those who live in harmony with God and through faith in Him receive the strength to resist evil and speak out in defense of truth will always find themselves in severe troubles and often remain completely alone. But they will have a precious victory if they make God their trust. His grace will become their strength. Their spiritual perception will be sharpened and they will have the moral courage to resist evil influences. Like Moses, such people will have an unblemished character.

Aaron's gentleness and compliance and his desire to please people in everything blinded him, and he ceased to see the sins of his contemporaries and to understand the enormity of the crime that he himself approved. Aaron's support of evil and sin in Israel cost the lives of three thousand Jews. How strikingly different is the behavior of Moses! After he had testified to the Israelites that God could not be trifled with with impunity, and had demonstrated God's just indignation at their sins by giving the terrible command to kill friends or relatives who persisted in their apostasy; After justice had been done to avert the wrath of God, without regard to kindred feelings or sympathy for beloved friends who also continued to persist in their rebellion, only then did Moses find himself ready for another task. He proved that he is a true friend of God and a defender of the interests of the people.

“The next day Moses said to the people: you have committed a great sin; therefore I will go up to the Lord, if I will not atone for your sin. And Moses returned to the Lord and said: Oh, this people have committed a great sin; they have made themselves a golden god. Forgive their sin And if not, then blot me out from Your book, in which You wrote. The Lord said to Moses: He who has sinned against Me, I will blot out from My book. So go, lead this people where I told you. Mine will go before you, and on the day of my visitation I will visit them for their sin. And the Lord struck the people because of the calf that Aaron had made" (Exodus 32:30-35).

Moses pleaded with God for sinful Israel. He did not try to minimize the sin of the people before God and did not justify it. He frankly admitted that the Jews committed a great sin by making golden gods for themselves. But then he plucks up his courage. His life is so closely intertwined with the interests of Israel that he boldly turns to God and begs Him to forgive his people. If the sin of the Israelites is so great that God cannot forgive them, and their names must be blotted out from His book, then may the Lord then blot out his name, Moses. When the Lord repeated His promise to Moses, the essence of which was that His Angel would go before him when he led the people to the Promised Land, it became clear to Moses that his request for mercy had been heard. But the Lord warned Moses that He would certainly punish His people for their grave sin, since Moses could not resist punishing the Israelite people for their iniquities. But if from now on the Jews will be obedient, He will blot out their great sin from His book.

Aaron[Heb. Aharon] – the meaning of the name is not precisely established, perhaps it corresponds to Egypt. "great name"

Aaron was a descendant of Levi (third in descending line Levi - Kohath - Amram - Aaron), the son of Amram and Jochebed (Ex. 6:20; Num. 26:59). He was younger than his sister Miriam and three years older than his brother Moses (Ex. 7:7). He was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Abminadab and sister of Nahshon of the tribe of Judah (Num. 1:7). She bore him four sons - Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar (Ex. 6:23).

Having called Moses to be the leader and liberator of Israel, God appointed Aaron in the 83rd year of his life, speak to the people instead of his tongue-tied brother. He was to become the “mouth” of Moses (Exodus 4:16) and his prophet (Exodus 7:1).

Aaron first mentioned in Exodus as "Aaron the Levite". He went out to meet his brother, Moses, who had returned to Egypt after God spoke to him from the burning bush.

The brothers meet in the wilderness (Ex. 4:27), appear before the elders of Israel (vv. 28-31) and before Pharaoh. In addition to being the mouthpiece of Moses, Aaron He also played the role of a miracle worker: it was in his hands that there was a rod that became a serpent and absorbed the rods of the Egyptian sorcerers, who also became snakes (Ex. 7:8ff.). This rod with a wave of the hand Aaron turned the waters of the Nile into blood, and then filled the land of Egypt with toads and the air with midges (Ex. 7:19; 8:5ff., 16ff.) (later the rod only works in the hands of Moses).

Aaron and Moses receive God's permission to exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12:31) and lead the people during the period of wandering through the desert (chapter 16). When Moses prays during the battle between the Israelites and the Amalekites, Aaron together with Hur he supports his hands (Ex. 17:12). He, along with Moses, ascends Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:24), accompanies the leader with his two sons, Nadab and Abihu, and 70 elders at the solemn conclusion of the covenant with the Lord (Exodus 24:1, 9). When Moses ascends Mount Sinai again, he appoints in his place Aaron and Ora, whom he entrusts to administer justice during his absence (v. 14).

However, the next time Moses ascended Mount Sinai, accompanied only by Jesus (Ex. 24:12ff.), the people were convinced Aaron to make them a visible image of God's presence and he made a golden calf, which aroused the wrath of Moses (Ex. 32:1ff.). His words, when he presented the calf to the people, “Behold your God, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt” (Ex. 32:4), were used by Jeroboam when he set up golden calves in Bethel and Dan. for worship (1 Kings 12:28).

In the next 40 days, Moses received from God, among others, the command to dedicate Aaron and his sons as priests (chap. 28; 29).

Aaron confirmed in this election, firstly, after the death of Korah and his supporters, then, when the defeat ceased, after he “interceded the people” with the censer, and also when his rod sprouted buds and blossomed (Num. 16:17) . Faithful and selfless in his service, he meekly remained silent when his sons Nadab and Abihu were killed by fire from the Lord (Lev. 10:1-3).

Descendants Aaron received the right to inherit the high priesthood (Ex. 29:29). The purpose of the priests and their duties, the rights to sacrifices and their provision - all this is established by God Himself (Num. 4:18).

In the Pentateuch Aaron recognized as the high priest, and his sons as priests to serve in the sanctuary (Ex. 28:1ff.; Lev. 8:1ff.). Aaron was anointed with sacred oil and therefore was considered “the anointed priest” (Lev. 4:3, etc.; cf.: precious oil flowing down on the beard Aaronov in Ps. 132:2). Aaron and his sons receive special clothes, but the vestments Aaron special. On a forehead plate attached to a kidar, a headdress Aaron, the words “Holy to the Lord” (Ex. 28:36) were engraved (as on a seal); to the amices (shoulders) of his ephod was attached a breastplate of judgment (a shield on the chest), decorated with twelve precious stones (each stone was carved with the name of one of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel); the Urim and Thummim were placed on the breastplate, with the help of which they threw the sacred lot to find out the will of God regarding His people (Ex. 28:15ff.).

The most significant day of the year for Aaron(as for every “anointed priest” after him) was the Day of Atonement (10th of the month of Tishri), when he passed through the curtain that separated the tabernacle of meeting from the inner part of the sanctuary (holy of holies), and sprinkled the ark of the covenant the blood of the sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people (Lev. 16:1ff.). On this occasion, he did not put on his colorful clothes of glory and beauty, but only the sacred linen tunic and linen undergarment.

However, despite Aaron's high status, Moses remained God's chief prophet to Israel and the chief mediator between God and the Israelites, which aroused the envy of Aaron and Miriam (Num. 12:1ff.). In the second year of wandering in the desert, Aaron, along with Miriam, opposed Moses. They reproached Moses for his “Ethiopian wife” and doubted his special position before God. It can be assumed that the initiative in this speech belonged to Mariam, whom the Lord punishes with leprosy. Aaron intercedes for her before Moses, and, thanks to the latter’s prayer, she is granted healing (Numbers 12).

Myself Aaron(along with Moses) aroused the envy of other Levitical families, whose leader was Korah (Num. 16:1ff.). The rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiron is directed not only against the power of Moses, but also against the consolidation of the right to the priesthood for Aaron and his sons. When the people accuse Moses and Aaron in the death of the rebels, the Lord sends defeat to the Israelites, which Aaron prevents incense through the sacrifice. The Lord then reaffirms the priesthood Aaron: the rod of Levi on which the name was written Aaron, turned green and blossomed (chap. 16; 17). This rod was subsequently placed in the ark of the covenant (Heb. 9:4).

In Kadesh Aaron turns out to be involved in the guilt of Moses, who struck the rock twice with his rod, when he should have limited himself to a word. For this, they both lose the right to enter the Promised Land (Num. 20). Soon the Lord recalls Aaron. Moses, at the direction of the Lord, ascends Mount Hor with Aaron and Eleazar. There he takes pictures Aaron high priestly robes and clothes his son Eleazar in them, who takes the place of his father.

Aaron dies at the age of 123 (Num. 33:39) and is mourned for 30 days (Num. 20:23-29).

Like a high priest Aaron was a vivid prototype of Christ, since he was called by God, anointed with oil, bore the names of the tribes on his chest, proclaimed the will of God through the Urim and Thummim, entered the Holy of Holies on the day of reconciliation “not without blood,” interceded for the people of God and blessed them. See Hebrews 5:4; 7:11; 9:7ff.

Aaron lacks independence, in his actions he is highly dependent on others - Moses, Miriam, the people. Meaning Aaron as a person in that it was him who God called to be the high priest of Israel. But service Aaron limited, which is especially symbolized by the fact that he put aside his high priestly robe before his death. In Heb. 7-9 emphasizes time constraints and imperfection Aaronova priesthood versus the messianic priesthood “according to the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 5:6; 7:11).

The priests of Israel were subsequently designated as "sons of Aaron».

“Sons of Zadok”, who served as priests in the Jerusalem Temple from the moment of its consecration under Solomon until 171 BC. (except for the period of the Babylonian captivity), also belong to the descendants Aaron.

In the New Testament Aaron named as the ancestor of Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5), and also mentioned by Stephen in his review of the history of Israel (Acts 7:40). The Apostle Paul, author of Hebrews, contrasts circumcision with the hereditary Levitical priesthood Aaron the perfect and eternal ministry of Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary (Heb. 5:4; 7:11, etc.).

New Bible Dictionary

Aaron was the first high priest of the Jewish people and the elder brother and lawgiver of Moses (Ex. 28:1). The son of Amram and Jochebed, he came from the tribe of Levi and was three years older than his brother, Moses. Due to Moses' tongue-tiedness, he had to speak for him before the people and the Egyptian king Pharaoh, which is why he was called God by the mouth of Moses and his prophet (Exodus 4:16; Exodus 7:1); at the same time, he had to help his brother during the journey of the Jews from Egypt to the land of Canaan.

Aaron took Elizabeth, the daughter of Abinadab, as his wife, and had four sons from her: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. The first two were punished by God with death for bringing alien fire to the Lord, and thus the priesthood was established in the lineage of the last two brothers remaining alive (Ex. 6:23).

Aaron and his sons were specially and directly called by God Himself to priestly service (Heb. 5:4). But even before the dedication, when Moses went to Mount Sinai to receive the law from God, the Jews got bored with the long stay of their leader on the mountain and began Aaron demanding that he give them a statue of one of the pagan deities as a guidebook. Aaron, yielding to the reckless demand of the people, ordered the golden earrings of their wives and children to be brought, and when they were brought, he poured out of them a golden calf, probably modeled on the Egyptian idol of Apis. The satisfied people exclaimed: “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt” (Ex. 27:4). Seeing this Aaron He set up an altar and cried out, saying: “Tomorrow is a feast for the Lord. The next day the people brought burnt offerings before him and began to eat and drink, and then play” (Ex. 32:1, 6).

For such weakness Aaron was justly reproached by Moses; but since this cowardice was soon smoothed over by repentance, then Aaron and after that he was not deprived of God's favor. Moses, by the will of God, at the same Mount Sinai elevated him to the high rank of high priest, or high priest, with the right to transfer the high priesthood to the eldest in his family, and appointed his four sons as priests (Lev. 8). However, soon after the initiation, two of the sons Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, took their censers and brought “strange fire” before the face of the Lord, for which they were killed by fire sent from the Lord (Lev. 10: 1, 7). The Book of Numbers (Num. 3:4) notes that this happened while the people were still in the wilderness of Sinai. Following their death, Moses went to Aaron and conveyed to him the will of the Lord regarding the priests in the following words: “In those who draw near to Me I will be sanctified and glorified before all the people” (Lev. 10:3).

Shortly before the departure of the Jews from the Sinai desert, Aaron, with his sister Mariam, had the weakness to challenge Moses’ right of prophecy, pointing to his marriage to an Ethiopian. For this reproach made to Moses, Miriam was punished with seven days of leprosy (Numbers 12). Aaron but, after confessing his sin before the Lord, he was forgiven.

Being a constant collaborator with Moses, Aaron, like him, he was often subjected to reproaches and insults from easily indignant Jews. Once it even came to the point of challenging his right to the high priesthood. This disturbance took place under the leadership of the Levite Korah, Dathan, Abiron and Avian with 250 people of the most prominent Israelites from other tribes. “The whole community, everyone is holy and the Lord is among them! Why do you put yourselves above the people of the Lord?” (Num. 16:3) - they said to Moses and Aaron. The consequence of the indignation was that the instigators of the rebellion were consumed by the earth, and their 250 accomplices were burned by heavenly fire. But God’s terrible punishment did not bring the rebels to their senses. The next day, the people again grumbled against Moses and Aaron (Num. 16:41): “You have killed the people of the Lord,” he cried, and then anger came out from the Lord and defeat began among the people: 14,700 people died. According to the orders of Moses, Aaron He took the censer, put incense and fire from the altar into it, stood between the dead and the living, and the defeat ceased (Num. 16:42, 49).

After this punishment of the troublemakers, the high priesthood was confirmed for Aaron the following significant miracle: from all 12 tribes, Moses placed 12 rods in the tabernacle overnight with an inscription on each name of the ancestor of the tribe; in the morning the rod of the tribe of Levi, with the name Aaron, blossomed, sprouted buds, gave flowers and produced almonds (Num. 17:8). This blossoming rod was kept for a long time after that with the Ark of the Covenant, as clear evidence that the priesthood was forever established by God for Aaron and his sons.

However, Aaron did not live to see the Israelites enter the Promised Land. For the lack of faith in the omnipotence of God, which he discovered in the desert of Sin, he died before this solemn day (Num. 20:12). In the fortieth year, after leaving Egypt, the Lord ordered him, together with Moses his brother and Eleazar his son, to ascend Mount Hor, and in the eyes of the whole community to die on its top (Num. 20:28).

In the book of Deuteronomy the place of death Aaron is called Moser (Deut. 10:6), and Mount Or is still called by the Arabs Mount Aaron(Jebel Haroun). It still shows the place of his burial. The people of Israel honored his death with thirty days of mourning (Num. 20:29).

Aaron died 123 years old, on the first day of the fifth month. In the Jewish calendar, a fast is prescribed on this day in memory of his death. The high priesthood after him passed to his eldest son, Eleazar. In the book of Psalms he is called the holy one of the Lord (Ps. 106:16). Priests in later times were often called home Aharonov and sons Aaronov, in honor of their great ancestor.

According to general chronology, birth Aaron was in 1574 BC, calling in 1491, initiation in 1490, and death in 1451.

20.04.2015

The exact meaning of the name Aaron is not known; there are only assumptions that it is of Egyptian origin, and perhaps translated as “Great Name.”
According to legend, the Saint was the son of Amram, and is also considered a descendant of Levi. He had a brother and a sister. The sister's name was Miriam, and she was older than Aaron, the brother's name was Moses, who was 3 years younger than Aaron. The Savior's wife, Mariam (daughter of Amminadab), bore him 4 sons. Their names were Abihu, Ithamar, Navad and Eleazar.

At one time, after being called by Moses, Aaron became a leader and fought for the liberation of Israel. Thus, God made him at the age of 83 through the mouth of Moses. He had to talk to people instead of his brother, who didn't like talking to people.

The first mention of the Saint is found in Exodus. In this scripture he appears under the name Aaron the Levite. From Exodus we can understand that the Priest went to meet his brother Moses, who went to Egypt after a conversation with God.

Aaron was a very worthy man in his time, but he suffered because of his weak character. Quite often he had to act on the instructions of others and very rarely on the expression of his own desire. The weakness of the Saint’s character is evidenced, for example, by the fact that at a time when Moses was not there, he easily succumbed to the demands of the people at Sinai, and specially made a calf of gold for him.

There was also a moment when the Priest joined his sister and began to speak ill of Moses, but then went over to his brother’s side when he disobeyed God’s instructions and dared to hit the rock several times. Having committed this act, they were forever deprived of the happiness of setting foot in the promised lands.

Aaron lived 123 years and died in front of many people who greatly mourned his death. Death overtook the Saint on Mount Or. The tomb located on this mountain is today recognized by the Arabs as the burial place of the Priest itself. However, many data indicate that it appeared much later than the death of the Saint.

Aaronic Priesthood - Establishment

Ordination to the priesthood is considered to be the most important ordination the Lord has ever given to men. It is said that it is given to preserve religion throughout the world and is the greatest and surest condition for its presence on earth, and subsequently it will give spiritual salvation to humanity.

Naturally, priesthood was common earlier. The role of minister was performed by the oldest in the family. However, later it was introduced that it was necessary to transfer the priesthood from this uncertain state and structure into a new institution in which there were a number of rules and canons, and it was separated from the general mass of people.

The duties of service now even included wearing a certain type of attire. Naturally, many in the patriarchal society were very dissatisfied with such new decisions and the violation of old principles. This indignation grew so much among the masses that God had to perform a miracle in order for the true nature of the new institution to be etched in the minds of the people.

Type of Jesus Christ as Aaron

Having laid the foundation for the priesthood, Saint Aaron can rightfully be considered a prototype of the Divine principle created for salvation, namely, one can trace the image of Jesus Christ in the prototype and activity of the Saint. Such a conclusion may arise after drawing parallels between Jesus Christ and the Priest on the basis of the two covenants.

Paul himself teaches about this relationship, and after him the rest of the fathers and teachers of the church. The apostle himself, in his teachings, points out a very close similarity between Christ and the son of Amram, both in their images and in the teaching and priesthood itself. No one can arbitrarily assume the title of priest, neither Jesus nor Aaron. Both of them were appointed to serve by God himself. But, despite the fact that both received their blessing to serve people from the Almighty, the clear superiority of Christ could be seen. Thus, Aaron could only prepare and carry out the salvation that Jesus finally completed.

After Paul, many more fathers extol reminders of Aaron's divine recognition. Cyril of Alexandria noted that a spiritual prototype of Jesus can be traced in the Saint. Thus, dividing Christ and Aaron at the command to follow Moses, thereby showing the imperfection and weakness of the Old Testament. Thus, one can judge the uselessness and imperfection of the Mosaic decrees, in which some Jews believe who abandoned the High Priest Jesus Christ.

Aaron was a very eloquent man and, being a prototype of the High Priest, was given by God to Moses to help him free Israel. Without the help of the Priest, Moses would not have been able to liberate the city, because he was tongue-tied in words. The law that existed at that time was too unimportant and weak to help in liberation. In this regard, God gave humanity Jesus, who carries out the salvation of the world through the priesthood.

And finally, Aaron, ordained as a priest, receives a distinctive robe and priestly insignia from the Creator himself. Bishop Kirill talks in more detail in his writings about the robe of the High Priest. From the reasoning it follows that the savior bore the first name, meaning that he was the First Savior, and the second name Christ indicates that the Savior belonged to the priests who carried out the service. In the end, it is true that Jesus and Aaron in his initial priestly guise are a continuation of one.

The scripture itself does not give a complete perfect picture of the Holy One, but on the contrary, it gives some criticism and highlights the imperfections of the first priest of Israel.

At one time, Moses had to engage in luring forgiveness from God. He asked for it for his people and his companion. Thus, the circle of revelation was completed for the first time by Moses and Aaron. God showed mercy to the Saint and granted him forgiveness, which was later fully manifested in the actions of Jesus Christ.

Saint Nicholas or, as he was called during his lifetime, Nicholas of Tolentinsky, was born in 1245. He is considered an Augustinian monk; in addition, he was canonized by the Catholic Church. According to various sources...