The Life of Aaron the High Priest: Key Facts, Stories, and Torah Insights

Aaron the High Priest was the eldest son of Amram and Yocheved, and brother to Moshe and Miriam. He was three years older than Moshe. Aaron served as Moshe's full partner in his mission: he represented Moshe before Pharaoh (because Moshe was “slow of speech”), performed signs and wonders, helped lead the people in Egypt and during the Exodus, participated in the splitting of the Red Sea, and oversaw the establishment of the Levite service and the priesthood.

Aaron merited the priesthood, which was thereafter passed down to his sons. Every priest throughout all generations is a descendant of Aaron.

He Did Not Feel Jealous of His Younger Brother’s Greatness

Aaron earned his spiritual greatness because when he saw that his younger brother Moshe had been chosen by God to redeem Israel from Egypt, he felt no jealousy whatsoever. The Sages learn this from the verse: “And he will see you and rejoice in his heart.” God tells Moshe that Aaron will not envy him — on the contrary, he will rejoice wholeheartedly that his younger brother has been chosen as leader.

Because Aaron rejoiced completely — “rejoice in his heart”, God appointed him as High Priest and promised the priesthood to his descendants forever.

Aaron was the first older brother in history to rejoice in a younger brother’s greatness, rather than resent it. All earlier firstborns failed in this challenge (Cain, Ishmael, Esau, Reuven, etc.). Aaron overcame his human nature, and therefore he was chosen to establish a priestly line elevated above human pettiness, rooted instead in transcendent holiness.

He was the first to repair the role of the firstborn — and thus earned the right to replace it. This was Aaron’s original and defining merit, aided by Divine assistance that helped him overcome natural instincts. For this reason, too, Aaron was sanctified as a priest from birth.

“And Aaron Was Silent”

Aaron is the ultimate example of accepting suffering with love. On the day of the dedication of the Tabernacle — the greatest day of his life, when he officially entered the service, the two eldest of his sons, Nadav and Avihu, died after offering “strange fire.”

The Torah describes Aaron’s reaction in just three words: “And Aaron was silent.”

This expresses an extraordinarily elevated level of spiritual acceptance and inner strength.

God Confirmed His Choice of Aaron

During the desert journey, Korach challenged the leadership of Moshe and Aaron. God confirmed Aaron’s Divinely chosen status through powerful signs:

• The Incense Test: Korach’s 250 men who offered incense were consumed by fire, but when Aaron offered incense, it stopped the deadly plague among the people.

• The budding of Aaron’s staff, which miraculously produced blossoms, almonds, and flowers, publicly validated Aaron’s priesthood.

A Lover of Peace and Pursuer of Peace

Pirkei Avot (1:12) says: “Be among the disciples of Aaron — loving peace and pursuing peace.”

Avot d’Rabbi Natan (12:3) describes Aaron’s method: When two people quarreled, Aaron went to each one privately and said: “My son, see what your friend is saying — his heart is torn, he rends his clothing, he says: ‘Woe to me! How can I lift my head to see my friend? I am ashamed that I wronged him.’”

Aaron stayed until he softened the person’s heart. Then he went to the other disputant and repeated similar words. When the two eventually met, they embraced and kissed.

To this day, Aaron is the eternal symbol of love for people and active pursuit of peace.

He Brought Peace Between Husbands and Wives

According to Avot d’Rabbi Natan, Aaron was essentially the first marriage counselor in Jewish history — and a remarkably successful one.

The text states that there were thousands of children named “Aaron” in the wilderness generation. Because without Aaron, those children would never have been born — he restored peace between countless husbands and wives, leading to renewed harmony and new families.

Given that at least half of the population were girls (who may not have been named Aaron), and considering that not all reconciled couples necessarily had children, Aaron’s efforts must have brought healing to thousands of marriages and helped stabilize countless families.

“If Only I Had Reached This Place Earlier”

Aaron the High Priest died at the age of 123 on the 1st of Av. He is the only person in the entire Torah whose date of death is explicitly stated.

Moshe, Aaron, and Aaron’s successor Elazar were commanded to ascend the mountain. There Moshe removed Aaron’s priestly garments, dressed Elazar in them, and Aaron died with a kiss of the Divine Presence.

Yalkut Shimoni describes the scene: God descended to take Aaron’s soul with a kiss, as the verse says: “by the mouth of the Lord.” Moshe and Elazar kissed Aaron — Moshe on one cheek, Elazar on the other.

As Moshe removed Aaron’s garments, a cloud of glory covered each limb. 

Moshe asked Aaron: “What do you see?”
Aaron answered: “I see nothing except the Cloud of Glory covering me.”

When the cloud fully enveloped him, Moshe called out: “Aaron, my brother! What is the death of the righteous like? Where are you?”

Aaron replied: “I am not worthy to tell you… If only I had come here earlier.”

When Moshe saw how peaceful Aaron’s passing was, he longed for such a death.

Israel wept for Aaron for 30 days, reflecting the deep love the people had for him. Halachic sources, including the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 580:1–2), rule that fasting is permitted on Rosh Chodesh Av because it is the day of Aaron’s death.

The Clouds of Glory

After Aaron’s death, the Clouds of Glory that surrounded and protected Israel in the desert departed. This taught the nation that these protective clouds existed in Aaron’s merit.