Numbers 20:22-29

The death of Aaron and the succession of Eleazar 20:22-29

Mount Hor seems to have stood on the western border of Edom (Numbers 20:23). [Note: Yohanan Aharoni and Michael Avi-Yonah, The Macmillan Bible Atlas, pp. 41-42.]

Aaron died on the first day of the fifth month in Israel’s fortieth year (Numbers 33:37-38). He was 123 years old (Numbers 33:39). Before Aaron died, Moses formally removed his brother’s high priestly vestments and clothed Eleazar, Aaron’s son, with them. Israel now had a new high priest. Similarly before Moses died, God installed Joshua as Israel’s new leader (cf. Deuteronomy 34:9).

God has not revealed how Aaron died. His disobedience to God at Meribah near Kadesh led to a premature death (Numbers 20:12). Aaron appears to have been a man of weak will whom the people rather easily influenced to compromise his obedience to God’s word. Nevertheless he was an extremely important individual because of his ministry, his office, and his role as founder of the Aaronic priesthood. His great responsibilities before God were second only to his privileges under God.

"So ends the dark chapter. In it has been recorded the death of a prophetess, the critical sin of Moses and Aaron, the refusal of negotiation, the death of Aaron, and the mourning of the people. The chapter has emphasized the limitations of man-even God’s leaders! Now with a brighter spotlight on the grace and glory of God, Numbers resumes its story of advance." [Note: Jensen, p. 87.]