Episode 13: Aaron and Miriam

Behind Moses there was a family. His older siblings, Aaron and Miriam, walked beside him during the exodus and played a fundamental role in Israel’s history. Aaron was the first high priest and Moses’ spokesman; Miriam was a prophetess and leader of the people’s praise. Both showed great virtues and human weaknesses. The prophet Micah remembers the three together when God says: “I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam” (Micah 6:4). In this episode we meet these two siblings.

A family of the tribe of Levi

Aaron, Miriam and Moses were the children of Amram and Jochebed, of the tribe of Levi (Numbers 26:59). Miriam was the eldest; Aaron was three years older than Moses (Exodus 7:7). They grew up in times of oppression, when Pharaoh had ordered the Hebrew boys to be killed. That simple family of slaves became the instrument God used to free a whole people.

Miriam, the sister who watched

Miriam first appears in the Bible as a girl. When her mother put little Moses in an ark among the reeds of the Nile, his sister “stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him” (Exodus 2:4). When Pharaoh’s daughter found the child, Miriam bravely approached and offered to find a Hebrew nurse. Thanks to her initiative, Moses was raised by his own mother. That alert and courageous girl already showed the qualities of a future leader.

Aaron, the spokesman

When God called Moses from the burning bush, Moses excused himself, saying he was slow of speech. God replied: “Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well… he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth” (Exodus 4:14-16). Aaron came out to meet Moses in the wilderness, and together they stood before Israel’s elders and before Pharaoh. Aaron spoke God’s words and performed the signs. It was his rod that became a serpent and swallowed the rods of Egypt’s magicians.

Miriam’s song

After the crossing of the Red Sea, when the people saw God’s great work, Moses sang a song of victory. Then Miriam took the lead:

“And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.”
Exodus 15:20-21

She is the first woman called a “prophetess” in the Bible. Her song is regarded as one of the oldest poetic fragments in Scripture. Miriam led the women in praise with timbrels and dances, celebrating deliverance. Many churches see in her an example of leadership in worship.

Aaron and Hur hold up Moses’ hands

When Amalek attacked Israel at Rephidim, Joshua went out to fight while Moses went up to the top of a hill with the rod of God. While Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; when he let them down from weariness, Amalek prevailed. Then Aaron and Hur set a stone for Moses to sit on and held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other, until the going down of the sun (Exodus 17:12). It is a beautiful picture of how leaders need others to hold them up in prayer and struggle.

The first high priest

At Mount Sinai, God chose Aaron and his sons for the priesthood. Aaron was consecrated as Israel’s first high priest. He wore holy garments “for glory and for beauty”: the ephod, the breastplate with twelve precious stones engraved with the names of the twelve tribes, and a golden plate on the mitre inscribed “Holiness to the Lord”. So whenever he entered the sanctuary, Aaron bore the names of the people upon his heart before God.

Once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the high priest entered the Most Holy Place with the blood of the sacrifice to make atonement for the people’s sins. God also gave Aaron a blessing that is still spoken today in synagogues and churches around the world:

“The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26

The golden calf

Aaron also had a moment of great weakness. While Moses spent forty days on the mountain receiving the law, the people grew impatient and asked Aaron to make them gods. Aaron collected the golden earrings, cast a calf and built an altar before it. When Moses came down and called him to account, Aaron excused himself almost childishly: “I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf” (Exodus 32:24). Moses interceded for the people and for Aaron (Deuteronomy 9:20), and God forgave him and kept him in his calling. The story shows that even spiritual leaders can give in to pressure, and that God’s grace restores.

The criticism of Moses

On another occasion Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman he had married, and said: “Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us?” (Numbers 12:2). God called the three to the tabernacle and defended Moses, his faithful servant. When the cloud departed, Miriam was leprous. Aaron pleaded with Moses, and Moses cried to God: “Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.” Miriam was healed after seven days outside the camp, and the people did not journey on until she returned. It is a touching detail: all Israel waited for her.

The rod that blossomed

When Korah and others rebelled against Aaron’s priesthood, God confirmed his choice in an extraordinary way. Each tribe presented a rod with its name, and they were left in the tabernacle overnight. The next day Aaron’s rod had budded, brought forth blossoms and yielded almonds (Numbers 17:8). The rod was kept beside the ark of the covenant as a testimony.

The deaths of Miriam and Aaron

Miriam died at Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, and was buried there (Numbers 20:1). Soon after, Aaron went up Mount Hor with Moses and his son Eleazar. There Moses took off Aaron’s priestly garments and put them on Eleazar, and Aaron died on the top of the mount. All Israel mourned for him thirty days (Numbers 20:28-29). None of the three siblings entered the promised land, but all three had fulfilled their part in God’s plan.

Places in the story

Map of the places in this episode. Approximate locations; map data: Natural Earth (public domain).

Egypt: where the three siblings were born in times of slavery.

The Red Sea: where Miriam led praise after the deliverance.

Rephidim: where Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hands.

Mount Sinai: where Aaron was consecrated high priest and where the golden calf episode took place.

Kadesh: in the wilderness of Zin, south of Canaan, where Miriam died.

Mount Hor: by the border of Edom; tradition places it near Petra in Jordan, where a small shrine on the summit of Jebel Harun (“Aaron’s mountain”) commemorates his tomb.

Interesting facts

Miriam, the first prophetess: she is the first woman the Bible calls by that title.

The priestly blessing: Numbers 6:24-26 is among the oldest biblical texts ever found: a version engraved on two small silver amulets discovered at Ketef Hinnom, Jerusalem, dates to about the seventh century BC.

The kohanim: to this day many Jews with the surname Cohen regard themselves as descendants of Aaron’s priestly line.

The breastplate: it had twelve precious stones, one for each tribe.

Miriam’s name: the Hebrew name Miriam is the origin of the name Mary, borne centuries later by Jesus’ mother.

Thirty days of mourning: all Israel mourned Aaron, as they would later mourn Moses.

Lessons for our lives

God uses families: three siblings served God together. No one leads alone: Moses needed Aaron’s voice and the support of his hands. Praise celebrates God’s work: Miriam teaches us to respond to salvation with joy. The pressure of the crowd can make us fall: like Aaron with the calf. Envy and grumbling do harm: even among siblings who serve God. God restores: Aaron was forgiven and Miriam healed.

On the road to Jesus

Aaron’s priesthood was a shadow of something greater. The letter to the Hebrews explains that Jesus Christ is our great High Priest. Aaron had to offer sacrifices first for his own sins; Jesus had no sin. Aaron entered once a year with the blood of animals; Jesus entered once for all with his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:11-12). Aaron died and had to be replaced; Jesus “continueth ever” and “ever liveth to make intercession” for us (Hebrews 7:24-25). As Aaron bore the names of the tribes on his heart, Jesus bears our names before the Father. And the dry rod that blossomed has been seen as an image of Christ’s resurrection.

In the next episode we will meet Joshua, Moses’ successor, who led Israel into the promised land.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for Jesus Christ, my great High Priest, who intercedes for me and bears my name on his heart. Like Miriam, I want to praise you for your victories. Like Aaron and Hur, I want to hold up those who serve. Keep me from giving in to pressure and from grumbling against others. The Lord bless you and keep you: may that blessing rest on my family. Amen.