Aaron, << AIR uhn, >> in the Bible, was the brother of Moses and Miriam. In earlier Biblical traditions, he was seen as a prophet and as Moses’ helper. In later traditions, he was viewed as the first high priest of Israel. Aaron may have originally played an independent role from Moses in the Israelites’ deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Like Moses, Aaron was denied entrance into Canaan and died on Mount Hor in Edom.
The priestly traditions in the Bible give Aaron an expanded role in Israelite religious life and consider him the founder of the Aaronite priesthood. This priesthood became important in Jerusalem after the Israelite return from exile in 538 B.C.
