Exodus 4:14 - 40:31; Leviticus 1:5 - 24:9; Numbers 1:3 - 33:39; Deuteronomy 9:20, 10:6.

BIOGRAPHY:

Aaron was the first high priest of Israel. He was a Levite of the family of Kohath and was the elder brother of Moses. Both were younger than Miriam their sister. He had four sons, the two oldest, Nadab and Abihu, being killed by God (Numbers 3:4), leaving Eleazer and Ithamar to serve in the priestly line. Eventually, due to the size of the families during David's reign, 24 courses of priests from the younger sons were formed (1 Chronicles 24:3-19). He acted as spokesman for Moses (Exodus 4:14-16).

Aaron was not as strong a character as his brother Moses for whilst he helped Moses with the defeat of the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-13) and performed miracles in God's power in the Egyptian court (Exodus 7:10-13, 19-21), he also sided with the people in the building of the golden calf (Exodus 32:1-5) and with his sister Miriam in criticising Moses because of his Ethiopian wife (Numbers 12:1-10). God, however, used Aaron as the high priest of Israel, who, adorned in his high priestly uniform (Exodus 28) served in the tabernacle. In a plain linen uniform he made atonement for the nation and himself (Leviticus 16:1-23). He was prevented from entering into the promised land (Numbers 20:12) and died at the age of 123 (Numbers 33:39) on Mt Hor; while his garments were removed and placed on his eldest surviving son Eleazer (Numbers 20:23-29).

The function of the high priest on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16)

a) The high priest was not allowed unrestricted access into the Holy of Holies (16:2).

b) He enters the holy place having offered a bullock for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering (16:3).

c) Aaron was to remove the ornate high priestly garments, put on a plain linen uniform, and wash himself (16:4).

d) The bullock is offered for Aaron, since he, also, is a man. The bullock is the highest value offering in Leviticus 1. The blood from the bullock is sprinkled on the mercy seat seven times (16:6, 11-14).

e) Aaron was to select two goats and then select (by casting lots) which goat would be slain and which would be the scapegoat (16:5,7,8).

f) One goat is slain as a sin offering for the nation of Israel (16:9,15,16), whilst the scapegoat is released into the wilderness (16:10).

g) He has to go in alone (16:17) and offer the blood of the animals (16:18,19).

h) The scapegoat is then symbolically made the sin bearer of Israel by the placing of the hands on its head and confessing Israel's iniquities (16:20-22).

i) Aaron changed from his linen uniform to his high priestly garments (16:23-24).

j) It was to occur on the feast of atonement (16:29,30).

LIFE LESSONS:

a) A priest is a man who represents other men before God (Hebrews 5:1).

b) We have a high priest, Jesus Christ, who at the right hand of God makes intercession for us (Hebrews 7:24-27).

c) Because Jesus Christ was perfect He had to enter only once into the Holy of Holies for the sins of mankind (Hebrews 7:27, 9:28a). He was the sacrifice.

d) The linen uniform worn by Aaron represents Jesus Christ becoming true humanity and dying on the cross (Hebrews 2:9a). He laid aside his embroidered priestly garments (glory) for a plain linen ephod (humanity).

e) The high priest's uniform with its glorious richness represents the glorified resurrection body which Christ received after His death (Hebrews 2:9a).

f) The scapegoat shows our sins are removed far from us (Psalm 103:12).

g) When Christ satisfied God's holiness on the cross, the veil was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). This allows us, through our High Priest Jesus Christ, direct access to the throne of God (Hebrews 4:14-16; 10:19-22).

h) Even with Aaron's failures, God still used him mightily (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Study courtesy of the Evangelical Bible College Of Western Australia