Aaron – Hârûn
Bible
Moses has been given a mission to liberate the people of Israel from Pharaoh. He protests:
“But, my Lord, never in my life have I been a man of eloquence… I am a slow speaker and not able to speak well”… [the Lord replies] “Now go, I shall help you to speak and tell you what to say.” “If it please you, my Lord,” Moses replied, “send anyone you will.” At this the anger of the Lord blazed out against Moses, and he said to him, “There is your brother Aaron the Levite, is there not? I know that he is a good speaker… He himself is to speak to the people in your place; he will be your mouthpiece, and you will be as the god inspiring him (Exodus 4:10-16).
The Lord said to Moses, ”Go to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and tell him to let the sons of Israel leave his land.” But Moses answered to the Lord’s face: “Lord”, said he, “since the sons of Israel have not listened to me, why should Pharaoh listen to me, a man slow of speech?” The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and ordered them both to go to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and to bring the sons of Israel out of the land off Egypt (Ex. 4:10-13).
Moses and Aaron accomplish their mission and lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. Before entering the Promised Land they have to battle against the Amalekites. Aaron helps by holding up Moses’ arms while Moses prays (Ex. 17, 8-16). Aaron and his sons are made priests (Ex. 29:1-30:10; Leviticus ch. 8-9). Moses goes up Mount Sinai to meet the Lord and receive the Commandments, leaving Aaron in charge (Ex. 24:12-18). The episode of the Golden Calf:
When the people saw that Moses was a long time before coming down the mountain, they gathered round Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god to go t the head of us; this Moses, the mn who brought us up from Egypt, we do not know what has become of him” … They all took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. He took them from their hands and, in a mould, melted the metal down and cast an effigy of a calf. “Here is your God, Israel,” they cried, “who brought you out of the land of Egypt!” Observing this, Aaron built an altar before the effigy. “Tomorrow”, he said, “will be a feast in honour of the Lord” (Ex. 32:1-5).
Moses comes down from the mountain:
As he approached the camp and saw the calf and the groups dancing, Moses’ anger blazed. He threw down the tablets he was holding and broke them at the foot of the mountain. He seized the calf they had made and burned it, grinding it into powder which he scattered on the water; and he made the sons of Israel drink it. To Aaron Moses said, “What has this people done to you, for you to bring such a great sin on them?” “Let not my lord’s anger blaze like this” Aaron answered, “You know yourself how prone this people is to evil. They said to me, ‘Make us a god to go at our head…’ So I said to them, ‘Who has gold?’ and they took it off and brought it to me. I threw it into the fire and out came this calf” (Ex. 32:19-24).
The covenant with God is renewed and the people resume their journey. At Meribah, in the desert, the people cry for water. Moses and Aaron are told to strike the rock. They seem to lack belief, since Moses strikes the rock twice before water gushes out in abundance (Numbers 20:1-11)
Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe that I could proclaim my holiness in the eyes of the sons of Israel, you shall not lead the assembly into the land I am giving them”
(Num. 20:12)
So Aaron dies before entering the Promised Land (cf. Num. 20:22-29).
Aaron was 123 years old when he died (cf. Num. 33:39). It is good to remember that he was the older brother of Moses. According to the Bible God often chooses the younger son over the elder.
Ecclesiasticus contains a long praise of Aaron “a holy man like Moses.”
(Ecc.45:7-27)
Qur’an
When Moses is sent to Pharaoh to obtain the release of the people of Israel
he requests the help of his brother:
Moses said, “Lord, lift up my heart and ease my task for me. Untie my tongue, so that they may understand my words, and give me a helper from my family, my brother Aaron – augment my strength through him. Let him share my task so that we and glorify You much and remember You often; You are always watching over us.” God said, “Moses, your request is granted.” (Q 20:25-36)
In another passage the unity of the two messengers is underlined:
God said, “Go, both of you with Our signs – We shall be with you listening. Go, both of you, to Pharaoh and say, ‘We bring a message from the Lord of the Worlds: let the Children of Israel leave with us.’”
(Q 26:15-17)
The Arabic for ‘We bring a message from the Lord of the Worlds’ if translated literally would read: ‘Indeed we are a messenger of the Lord of the Worlds’. Moses and his brother Aaron who acts as his spokesperson form in fact one single messenger.
Moses and Aaron, after the plagues, succeed in their mission, and the people of Israel are able to leave Egypt. They go through the desert. God asks Moses to ascend the mountain.
Moses said to his brother Aaron, “Take my place among my people: act rightly and do not follow the way of those who spread corruption.” (Q 7:142)
While Moses was on the mountain, the people started worshipping the Golden Calf
On his return to his people, angry and aggrieved, Moses… threw the Tablets down and seized his brother by the hair, pulling him towards him. Aaron said, “Son of my mother, these people overpowered me! They almost killed me! Do not give my enemies reason to rejoice! Do not include me with the evildoers!” Moses said, “My Lord, forgive me and my brother, accept us in Your mercy: You are the Most Merciful of all who show mercy.” (Q 7:150-151)
The prayer of Moses for his brother is admirable.
So the Qur’an sings the praises of both Moses and Aaron. God says:
We also bestowed Our favour on Moses and Aaron: We saved them and their people from great distress; We helped them, so they were the ones to succeed; We gave them the Scripture that makes things clear; We guided them to the right path; We let them be praised by succeeding generations: Peace be upon Moses and Aaron! This is how We reward those who do good: truly they were among Our faithful servants (Q 37:114-122).
Make A Comment
Comments (0)