Aaron


the older brother of Moses, usually regarded as the first high priest of the Hebrews. Ex. 28; 40:13–16.
Henry Louis (“Hank”) born 1934, U.S. baseball player.
a male given name.
Contemporary Examples

The video is so popular that Jesse himself, Emmy-winner Aaron Paul, tweeted it out.
‘Breaking Bad: The Middle School Musical’ Geniuses Rhett & Link Talk Going Viral Kevin Fallon August 10, 2013

“We had Aaron Sorkin’s language—he uses words beautifully,” says Michael de Luca, one of the the film’s producers.
Trent Reznor, Once Brooding, Turns Social Jacob Bernstein February 7, 2011

The trailer for Aaron Sorkin’s new HBO show has been released.
Will Aaron Sorkin’s New Show Be a Hit? Ryan Prior April 1, 2012

Firedoglake blogger Daniel Wright has obtained Aaron Swartz’s FBI file following his suicide last month.
Aaron Swartz FBI Files: Read Them Here Michael Keller February 19, 2013

Master Sergeant Aaron Torian is survived by his wife Jurley and three children, nine, four, and two years old.
A Man to Believe In: Eulogy for Marine Master Sergeant Aaron Torian Elliot Ackerman March 4, 2014

Historical Examples

Aaron grimly chuckled, and loved the Colonel with real tenderness.
Aaron’s Rod D. H. Lawrence

As you do know your Bible well, perhaps you can tell me what became of Aaron.
Samuel Butler: A Sketch Henry Festing Jones

“I never said nothing at all about Greenberg & Sen,” Aaron blurted out.
The Competitive Nephew Montague Glass

I do not find that he had anything to tell her about the death of Aaron.
Samuel Butler: A Sketch Henry Festing Jones

And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them.
The Bible for Young People Anonymous

noun
(Old Testament) the first high priest of the Israelites, brother of Moses (Exodus 4:14)

masc. proper name, in the Old Testament the brother of Moses, from Hebrew Aharon, probably of Egyptian origin. The Arabic form is Harun. Aaron’s beard as a type of herb is from 1540s.

the eldest son of Amram and Jochebed, a daughter of Levi (Ex. 6:20). Some explain the name as meaning mountaineer, others mountain of strength, illuminator. He was born in Egypt three years before his brother Moses, and a number of years after his sister Miriam (2:1,4; 7:7). He married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab of the house of Judah (6:23; 1 Chr. 2:10), by whom he had four sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. When the time for the deliverance of Isarael out of Egypt drew nigh, he was sent by God (Ex. 4:14,27-30) to meet his long-absent brother, that he might co-operate with him in all that they were required to do in bringing about the Exodus. He was to be the “mouth” or “prophet” of Moses, i.e., was to speak for him, because he was a man of a ready utterance (7:1,2,9,10,19). He was faithful to his trust, and stood by Moses in all his interviews with Pharaoh. When the ransomed tribes fought their first battle with Amalek in Rephidim, Moses stood on a hill overlooking the scene of the conflict with the rod of God in his outstretched hand. On this occasion he was attended by Aaron and Hur, his sister’s husband, who held up his wearied hands till Joshua and the chosen warriors of Israel gained the victory (17:8-13). Afterwards, when encamped before Sinai, and when Moses at the command of God ascended the mount to receive the tables of the law, Aaron and his two sons, Nadab and Abihu, along with seventy of the elders of Israel, were permitted to accompany him part of the way, and to behold afar off the manifestation of the glory of Israel’s God (Ex. 19:24; 24:9-11). While Moses remained on the mountain with God, Aaron returned unto the people; and yielding through fear, or ignorance, or instability of character, to their clamour, made unto them a golden calf, and set it up as an object of worship (Ex. 32:4; Ps. 106:19). On the return of Moses to the camp, Aaron was sternly rebuked by him for the part he had acted in this matter; but he interceded for him before God, who forgave his sin (Deut. 9:20). On the mount, Moses received instructions regarding the system of worship which was to be set up among the people; and in accordance therewith Aaron and his sons were consecrated to the priest’s office (Lev. 8; 9). Aaron, as high priest, held henceforth the prominent place appertaining to that office. When Israel had reached Hazeroth, in “the wilderness of Paran,” Aaron joined with his sister Miriam in murmuring against Moses, “because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married,” probably after the death of Zipporah. But the Lord vindicated his servant Moses, and punished Miriam with leprosy (Num. 12). Aaron acknowledged his own and his sister’s guilt, and at the intercession of Moses they were forgiven. Twenty years after this, when the children of Israel were encamped in the wilderness of Paran, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram conspired against Aaron and his sons; but a fearful judgment from God fell upon them, and they were destroyed, and the next day thousands of the people also perished by a fierce pestilence, the ravages of which were only stayed by the interposition of Aaron (Num. 16). That there might be further evidence of the divine appointment of Aaron to the priestly office, the chiefs of the tribes were each required to bring to Moses a rod bearing on it the name of his tribe. And these, along with the rod of Aaron for the tribe of Levi, were laid up overnight in the tabernacle, and in the morning it was found that while the other rods remained unchanged, that of Aaron “for the house of Levi” budded, blossomed, and yielded almonds (Num. 17:1-10). This rod was afterwards preserved in the tabernacle (Heb. 9:4) as a memorial of the divine attestation of his appointment to the priesthood. Aaron was implicated in the sin of his brother at Meribah (Num. 20:8-13), and on that account was not permitted to enter the Promised Land. When the tribes arrived at Mount Hor, “in the edge of the land of Edom,” at the command of God Moses led Aaron and his son Eleazar to the top of that mountain, in the sight of all the people. There he stripped Aaron of his priestly vestments, and put them upon Eleazar; and there Aaron died on the top of the mount, being 123 years old (Num. 20:23-29. Comp. Deut. 10:6; 32:50), and was “gathered unto his people.” The people, “even all the house of Israel,” mourned for him thirty days. Of Aaron’s sons two survived him, Eleazar, whose family held the high-priesthood till the time of Eli; and Ithamar, in whose family, beginning with Eli, the high-priesthood was held till the time of Solomon. Aaron’s other two sons had been struck dead (Lev. 10:1,2) for the daring impiety of offering “strange fire” on the alter of incense. The Arabs still show with veneration the traditionary site of Aaron’s grave on one of the two summits of Mount Hor, which is marked by a Mohammedan chapel. His name is mentioned in the Koran, and there are found in the writings of the rabbins many fabulous stories regarding him. He was the first anointed priest. His descendants, “the house of Aaron,” constituted the priesthood in general. In the time of David they were very numerous (1 Chr. 12:27). The other branches of the tribe of Levi held subordinate positions in connection with the sacred office. Aaron was a type of Christ in his official character as the high priest. His priesthood was a “shadow of heavenly things,” and was intended to lead the people of Israel to look forward to the time when “another priest” would arise “after the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 6:20). (See MOSES.)

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  • Aaron's-beard

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  • Aaron's rod

    a rod, inscribed with the name of Aaron, that miraculously blossomed and yielded almonds. Num. 17:8. Previously, the rod had changed into a serpent. Ex. 7:10. any of various plants having a tall, flowering stem, as the goldenrod or mullein. a smooth-stemmed herb, Thermopsis caroliniana, found from North Carolina to Georgia, having yellow flowers in […]

  • Aaron, henry

    aaron, henry Aaron, Henry (Hank Aaron) [(air-uhn)] A baseball player of the twentieth century; he hit a record 755 home runs in his major league career, which ran from 1954 to 1976. The previous record holder was Babe Ruth, who hit 714.

  • Aaronic

    of or relating to Aaron. pertaining or belonging to the order of Jewish priests descended from Aaron. of the second, or lesser, order of priesthood in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . Historical Examples But they fail to observe that he was without these things in the Aaronic priesthood. Autobiography of Frank […]

  • Aaronical

    . of or like a high priest; pontifical.


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