Aar·on /ˈærən, ˈɛr-/
 亞倫


 Aaron
      n 1: United States professional baseball player who hit more home
           runs than Babe Ruth (born in 1934) [syn: {Henry Louis
           Aaron, Hank Aaron]
      2: (Old Testament) elder brother of Moses and first high priest
         of the Israelites; created the Golden Calf


 Aaron
    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.)



 Aaron, a teacher; lofty; mountain of strength