Brother of Moses and high priest of the Old Law; chosen by Moses to be his spokesman before Pharoah (Exodus 4,7, 8). He caused the casting of the golden calf which the Israelites worshiped in the wilderness (Exodus 32), but at the prayer of Moses he was spared the fate of the three thousand worshipers (Deuteronomy 9). The rod of Aaron blossomed as a sign that he had been chosen by God to be first high priest (Leviticus 8). He was not allowed to enter the Land of Promise, but died on Mount Hor (Numbers 20). His son Eleazar and descendants, Aaronites, were consecrated as an hereditary priesthood.